Shloka 22
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
अस्मिन्नहं टद्रुमे जात: साधुभिश्न गुणैर्युत: । बालभावेन संगुप्त: शत्रुभिश्षल न धर्षित:
asminn ahaṃ tad-drume jātaḥ sādhubhiś ca guṇair yutaḥ | bāla-bhāvena saṃguptaḥ śatrubhiś ca na dharṣitaḥ ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದರು—ಈ ಮರದಲ್ಲೇ ನಾನು ಜನ್ಮಿಸಿದೆನು; ಇಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ಉಳಿದು ಸಜ್ಜನರಿಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ಗುಣಗಳಿಂದ ಯುಕ್ತನಾಗಿ ಬೆಳೆದೆನು. ಮಗುವನ್ನು ಕಾಯುವಂತೆ ಇದು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ರಕ್ಷಿಸಿತು; ಶತ್ರುಗಳು ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಮಣಿಸಲೂ ಅವಮಾನಿಸಲೂ ಸಾಧ್ಯವಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights gratitude and dharmic reflection: one should recognize and honor the sources of one’s safety and moral formation. Protection and nurturing—here symbolized by a tree—enable the cultivation of virtues, and such shelter can render hostility ineffective.
Bhishma speaks in the first person, recalling being born upon/near a particular tree and being raised there. He credits that place/object with safeguarding him like a child, so that enemies could not successfully attack or harm him.