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Shloka 12

Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ

Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra

ततो ब्राह्मणवेषेण मानुषं रूपमास्थित: । अवतीर्य महीं शक्रस्तं पक्षिणमुवाच ह,तदनन्तर वे ब्राह्मणके वेशमें मनुष्यका रूप धारण करके पृथ्वीपर उतरे और उस शुक पक्षीसे बोले--

tato brāhmaṇaveṣeṇa mānuṣaṃ rūpam āsthitaḥ | avatīrya mahīṃ śakras taṃ pakṣiṇam uvāca ha ||

അതിനുശേഷം ശക്രൻ (ഇന്ദ്രൻ) ബ്രാഹ്മണവേഷം ധരിച്ചു മനുഷ്യരൂപം സ്വീകരിച്ച് ഭൂമിയിലിറങ്ങി ആ പക്ഷിയോട് സംസാരിച്ചു.

ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
ब्राह्मण-वेषेणwith/in the guise of a Brahmin
ब्राह्मण-वेषेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootब्राह्मणवेष
FormMasculine, Instrumental, Singular
मानुषम्human
मानुषम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootमानुष
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
रूपम्form
रूपम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootरूप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
आस्थितःhaving assumed/taken up
आस्थितः:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था
Formक्त (past passive participle, used actively), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
अवतीर्यhaving descended
अवतीर्य:
TypeVerb
Rootअव-तॄ
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
महीम्the earth
महीम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमही
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular
शक्रःŚakra (Indra)
शक्रः:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootशक्र
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
तम्that (him)
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
पक्षिणम्bird
पक्षिणम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
उवाचsaid/spoke
उवाच:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
FormPerfect (लिट्), Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
indeed (emphatic particle)
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhīṣma
Ś
Śakra (Indra)
B
brāhmaṇa (disguise)
P
pakṣin (bird)
M
mahī (earth)

Educational Q&A

Dharma is often examined through tests of conduct: the divine may appear in ordinary or deceptive forms to reveal whether one’s actions align with righteousness rather than mere appearance or status.

Bhīṣma narrates that Indra (Śakra) comes down to earth in the disguise of a brāhmaṇa, taking a human form, and begins speaking to a bird—initiating a moral or dharmic inquiry.