Shloka 1
शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः
The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana
अत्-#-#कञ एकोनपज्चाशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: बहेलियेको स्वर्गलोककी प्राप्ति भीष्म उवाच विमानस्थौ तु तौ राजन् लुब्धक: खे ददर्श ह । दृष्टवा तौ दम्पती राजन् व्यचिन्तयत तां गतिम्
bhīṣma uvāca | vimānasthau tu tau rājan lubdhakaḥ khe dadarśa ha | dṛṣṭvā tau dampatī rājan vyacintayata tāṃ gatiṃ |
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai Raja, pemburu itu melihat dua ekor burung tersebut kini dalam rupa ilahi, duduk di atas kereta langit dan bergerak menempuh angkasa. Melihat pasangan yang bersinar itu sebagai suami isteri yang diberkati, si pemburu pun mula merenung sebab dan makna nasib mulia yang mereka peroleh.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral awakening: witnessing an unexpected exalted destiny (gati) prompts self-inquiry into the causes of spiritual ascent—implying that dharma and merit can transform one’s end beyond outward appearances.
Bhishma narrates that a hunter sees a pair of birds in divine form riding a celestial vimāna through the sky; astonished, he begins to ponder how they attained such a blessed state.