Shloka 14
Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)
हर्षेण महता5<विष्टो वाक््यं व्याकुललोचन: । तथेमं शकुनिं दृष्टवा विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा,शास्त्रीय विधिसे सत्कार पा उसने बड़े हर्षमें भरकर डबडबायी हुई आँखोंसे कबूतरकी ओर देखकर कहा--
harṣeṇa mahatāviṣṭo vākyam vyākula-locanaḥ | tathā imaṃ śakuniṃ dṛṣṭvā vidhi-dṛṣṭena karmaṇā satkāram cakāra, harṣa-bharād dṛṣṭiḥ sajalā babhūva; kapotaṃ prati nirīkṣya uvāca ||
Bhishma berkata: Dikuasai kegembiraan yang besar, matanya bergetar dan bergenang, dia memandang burung itu lalu berkata. Setelah melihat śakuni (burung) itu dan bertindak menurut tata cara yang ditetapkan oleh aturan suci, dia memberikan layanan tetamu yang sewajarnya—hatinya digerakkan oleh hormat kepada dharma dan kewajipan memuliakan tetamu.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma: one should honor a guest (even a vulnerable creature seeking refuge) according to righteous injunctions, with sincerity and compassion rather than mere formality.
A character, moved with great joy and emotion, sees the bird (śakuni/kapota) and, following scriptural propriety, offers it respectful hospitality, then speaks to it—setting up an ethical episode about duty and protection.