Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
तं॑ वै शाकुनिकं दृष्टवा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा । स पक्षी पूजयामास यत्नात् तं पक्षिजीविनम्
taṃ vai śākunikaṃ dṛṣṭvā vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā | sa pakṣī pūjayāmāsa yatnāt taṃ pakṣijīvinam ||
ಆ ಶಾಕುನಿಕನನ್ನು ನೋಡಿ, ಶಾಸ್ತ್ರಸಮ್ಮತ ವಿಧಿಯಂತೆ ನಡೆದು, ಆ ಪಕ್ಷಿಯು—ಪಕ್ಷಿಹಿಂಸೆಯಿಂದ ಜೀವನ ನಡೆಸುವ ಆ ಬೇಟೆಗಾರನನ್ನು—ಯತ್ನಪೂರ್ವಕವಾಗಿ ಪೂಜಿಸಿತು.
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma is expressed through right procedure and disciplined conduct: one should uphold prescribed respect and propriety even toward those whose livelihood appears ethically troubling, without letting personal dislike override righteous conduct.
A bird encounters a fowler (bird-catcher). Instead of reacting with hostility, the bird deliberately performs an act of honor toward him in a manner consistent with scriptural injunctions, setting up a reflection on dharma, conduct, and moral complexity.