Shloka 29

Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ

Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra

Devanagari script

विदित्वा च दृढां भक्ति तां शुके शीलसम्पदम्‌ | प्रीत: क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान्‌

Transliteration

viditvā ca dṛḍhāṃ bhaktiṃ tāṃ śuke śīla-sampadam | prītaḥ kṣipram atho vṛkṣam amṛtenāvasiktavān |

Translation

शुकाची दृढ भक्ती आणि शील-संपदा जाणून इंद्र अधिकच प्रसन्न झाले. त्यांनी तत्क्षणी त्या वृक्षावर अमृताचा सिंचन केला.

Word by Word

• विदित्वा: having known
• Type: Verb
• Root: विद्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), परस्मैपद-भाव (active sense)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• दृढाम्: firm, steadfast
• दृढाम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृढ
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• भक्तिम्: devotion
• भक्तिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• ताम्: that (her/that one)
• ताम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• शुके: in/with regard to Śuka
• शुके: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• शीलसम्पदम्: wealth of good conduct/character
• शीलसम्पदम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शील-सम्पद्
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• प्रीतः: pleased
• प्रीतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्री
• Form: क्त (past passive participle used adjectivally), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• वृक्षम्: tree
• वृक्षम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अमृतेन: with nectar/ambrosia
• अमृतेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमृत
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अवसिक्तवान्: sprinkled/poured over
• अवसिक्तवान्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√सिच्
• Form: क्तवतु (past active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Śuka
• Indra
• vṛkṣa (tree)
• amṛta (nectar)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse links spiritual devotion (bhakti) with ethical character (śīla): steadfast devotion that is supported by good conduct becomes especially worthy, and such integrity naturally attracts benevolent support—symbolized here by Indra’s life-giving nectar.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that Indra, seeing Shuka’s firm devotion and exemplary conduct, becomes delighted and immediately sprinkles a tree with amrita, indicating a divine response that revitalizes and blesses.