Shloka 7
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
नल्वमात्रपरीणाहो घनच्छायो वनस्पति: । सारिकाशुकसंजुष्ट: पुष्पवान्ू फलवानपि
nalvamātraparīṇāho ghanacchāyo vanaspatiḥ | sārikāśukasaṃjuṣṭaḥ puṣpavān phalavān api ||
ភីष្មៈបាននិយាយថា៖ «មានដើមឈើមួយ ធំលេចធ្លោ ទោះមានកម្រាស់មិនសូវធំក៏ដោយ ប៉ុន្តែស្រមោលវាសន្ធឹងក្រាស់ជ្រៅ។ លើវា មានហ្វូងសត្វសារីកា និងសត្វសុក (សត្វស្លាបដូចតួកែ) មកស្នាក់នៅ ហើយដើមឈើនោះពោរពេញដោយផ្កា និងផ្លែផងដែរ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid natural image to suggest that a single source of goodness and abundance can become a refuge for many. Ethically, it points toward the value of being supportive—like a flourishing tree that offers shade, food, and a dwelling-place to others.
Bhishma is describing a remarkable tree: slender in girth yet with a dense canopy, inhabited by parrots and mynas, and filled with flowers and fruits. The description functions as a scene-setting image within his broader instruction in Shanti Parva.