Shloka 13
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
कि नु ते पवनस्तात प्रीतिमानथवा सुह्ृत् । त्वां रक्षति सदा येन वने5त्र पवनो ध्रुवम्
ki nu te pavanastāta prītimān athavā suhṛt | tvāṃ rakṣati sadā yena vane 'tra pavano dhruvam ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ತಾತ, ಈ ಪವನನು ನಿನಗೆ ಏನು—ಪ್ರೀತಿವಂತನೋ ಅಥವಾ ಸುಹೃದನೋ? ಏಕೆಂದರೆ ಈ ಅರಣ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿನ್ನನ್ನು ಸದಾ ರಕ್ಷಿಸುವುದು ನಿಶ್ಚಯವಾಗಿ ಈ ಪವನನೇ.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the idea of unseen guardianship: protection may come through a benevolent force (here, Vāyu) that acts like a friend or well-wisher, suggesting that support can arise beyond ordinary human agency.
Bhīṣma addresses a young person with curiosity, observing that the Wind seems to be consistently safeguarding them in the forest, and asks whether the Wind is affectionate toward them or bound by friendship.