Shloka 4
नृशंस-लक्षणनिर्णयः | Determining the Marks of Cruel Conduct
Nṛśaṃsa
त॑ हीनपर्ण पतिताग्रशाखं निशीर्णपुष्पं प्रसमीक्ष्य वायु: । उवाच वाक्यं स्मयमान एवं मुदा युत: शाल्मलिमुग्रशाखम्
taṁ hīna-parṇaṁ patitāgra-śākhaṁ niśīrṇa-puṣpaṁ prasmīkṣya vāyuḥ | uvāca vākyaṁ smayamāna evaṁ mudā yutaḥ śālmalim ugra-śākham ||
Melihat pohon śālmali itu tanpa daun, pucuk-pucuk dahannya telah runtuh, dan bunganya telah gugur, Sang Angin pun bersukacita; sambil tersenyum ia berkata kepada śālmali yang dahulu bercabang garang itu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical lesson about the fragility of external power and pride: when the imposing tree loses its leaves, blossoms, and lofty branches, its former terror is revealed as temporary. The Wind’s pleased, smiling address signals a didactic moment—decline becomes the occasion to expose arrogance and point toward humility and right conduct.
In Bhishma’s discourse, the Wind personified observes the śālmali tree now ruined—leafless, flowerless, and with its upper branches fallen. Seeing this reversal, Vayu, delighted, speaks to the tree, initiating a moralizing dialogue typical of Shanti Parva’s instructive tales.