Gratitude, Discernment, and the Escalation of Power (Śvā–Dvipī–Vyāghra–Nāga–Siṃha–Śarabha Itihāsa)
स मुनिस्तस्य विज्ञाय भावज्ञों भयकारणम् | रुतज्ञ: सर्वसत्त्वानां तमैश्वर्यसमन्वित:
sa munis tasya vijñāya bhāvajño bhayakāraṇam | rutajñaḥ sarvasattvānāṃ tam aiśvaryasamanvitaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Resi itu, setelah mengetahui punca ketakutan anjing itu—kerana beliau memahami gerak batin dan mengerti bunyi serta bahasa semua makhluk—serta dikurniai kewibawaan tapa dan kesaktian, lalu menegurnya setelah menyedari apa yang telah menakutkannya.
भीष्म उवाच
Moral authority is shown through empathetic discernment: the sage first understands the cause of fear and the being’s inner state, then responds appropriately—an ethical model of compassion and wise speech.
A powerful sage, capable of understanding the feelings and speech of all creatures, recognizes why a dog is afraid and then speaks to it, setting up a compassionate intervention.