Shloka 20
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
तथैव मृगजातीभिरन्याभिरभिशो भसे । तथा सर्वाधिवासैश्व शोभसे मेरुवद्द्रुम
tathaiva mṛgajātībhiḥ anyābhiḥ abhiśobhase | tathā sarvādhivāsaiś ca śobhase meruvad drumam ||
Bhishma berkata: “Wahai pohon yang utama, demikian pula beragam jenis rusa dan makhluk liar lainnya menambah keelokanmu. Dan karena engkau menjadi tempat bernaung bagi semua, engkau bersinar laksana Gunung Meru.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
True excellence is to become a support and refuge for many. Like a great tree that shelters diverse creatures, a virtuous person (or ruler) gains splendor by protecting and accommodating others.
Bhishma is praising a ‘best of trees’ using vivid natural imagery: various wild animals enhance its beauty, and because it serves as a common dwelling-place, it is compared to Mount Meru in grandeur.