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 ||
ആ ശാകുനികനെ കണ്ടപ്പോൾ, ശാസ്ത്രസമ്മതമായ വിധിപ്രകാരം പ്രവർത്തിച്ച്, ആ പക്ഷി—പക്ഷിഹിംസയാൽ ജീവിക്കുന്ന ആ വേട്ടക്കാരനെ—ശ്രദ്ധാപൂർവ്വം പൂജിച്ചു.
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.