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 ||
ភីष្មៈបានមានព្រះវាចា៖ «ដូចគ្នានេះដែរ សត្វក្តាន់ និងសត្វព្រៃប្រភេទផ្សេងៗ ក៏មកបន្ថែមសោភ័ណភាពឲ្យអ្នក។ ហើយព្រោះអ្នកជាទីលំនៅរបស់សត្វទាំងអស់ អ្នកចែងចាំងដូចភ្នំមេរុ ឱ វೃក្សប្រសើរ!»
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.