Shloka 8
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लान: शिथिलवागपि । कृतज्ञः: सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा सो5प्यशुष्यत,वह धर्मात्मा एवं कृतज्ञ तोता कहीं आता-जाता नहीं था। चारा चुगना भी छोड़ चुका था। वह इतना शिथिल हो गया था कि उससे बोलातक नहीं जाता था। इस प्रकार उस वृक्षेके साथ वह स्वयं भी सूखता चला जा रहा था
niṣpracāro nirāhāro glānaḥ śithilavāk api | kṛtajñaḥ saha vṛkṣeṇa dharmātmā so 'py aśuṣyat ||
ビーシュマは言った。「報恩の心を抱くその正しき鸚鵡は、もはや飛び回ることもせず、餌を取ることさえやめた。衰弱して憔悴し、言葉もかすれていった。かくしてその木と共に留まるうち、彼自身もまた木と共に枯れていった――艱難の中でも揺るがぬ忠節と感謝の倫理的象徴である。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a dharmic virtue: one should remember and honor benefactors, remaining loyal even when circumstances turn painful, rather than abandoning them for self-interest.
A righteous parrot stays with a tree to which he is grateful. As the tree dries up, the parrot stops roaming, stops eating, becomes too weak to speak, and withers along with the tree—showing steadfast attachment born of gratitude.