Shloka 21
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
अनतिक्रमणीयानि दैवतानि शचीपते । यत्राभवत् तव प्रश्नस्तन्निबोध सुराधिप,“शचीवल्लभ! दैवका उल्लंघन नहीं किया जा सकता। देवराज! जिसके विषयमें आपने प्रश्न किया है, उसकी बात सुनिये
anatikramaṇīyāni daivatāni śacīpate | yatrābhavat tava praśnas tannibodha surādhipa ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai tuan Śacī, titah dan ketetapan ilahi tidak boleh dilanggar. Wahai raja para dewa, dengarlah kini dan fahamilah perkara yang daripadanya timbul pertanyaan tuanku.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts the inviolability of the divine order: certain boundaries set by the gods (or by providence) cannot be crossed, and ethical understanding begins with recognizing and respecting those limits.
Bhīṣma addresses Indra (called Śacīpati and Surādhipa), acknowledging Indra’s inquiry and preparing to explain the specific issue Indra asked about, prefacing his reply with a reminder that divine ordinances are not to be violated.