Shloka 426
Pitṛ-śrāddha-haviḥ-phala-nirdeśa
Offerings for Ancestors and Their Stated Results
अग्निदेवने उसकी भी जिह्ला उलट दी। अब अग्निदेवको प्रत्यक्ष देखकर देवताओंने दयायुक्त होकर शुकसे कहा--“तू शुकयोनिमें रहकर अत्यन्त वाणीरहित नहीं होगा--कुछ- कुछ बोल सकेगा। जीभ उलट जानेपर भी तेरी बोली बड़ी मधुर एवं कमनीय होगी ।।
agnidevena tasya jihvā ulṭā kṛtā | atha agnidevaṃ pratyakṣaṃ dṛṣṭvā devā dayāyuktāḥ śukam ūcuḥ— “tvaṃ śukayonau sthitvā atyantaṃ vāṇīrahito na bhaviṣyasi—kiñcit-kiñcid vaktuṃ śakṣyasi | jihvāyā ulṭāyāṃ satyām api tava vāk atīva madhurā ca kamanīyā ca bhaviṣyati || bālasyeva pravṛddhasya kalamavyaktam adbhutam | yathā pravṛddhasya puruṣasya bālabhāṣāyāṃ na vyaktā adbhutā toṭalī vāk madhurā pratibhāti, tathā tava vāk api sarveṣāṃ priyā bhaviṣyati ||”
ଅଗ୍ନିଦେବ ଶୁକର ମଧ୍ୟ ଜିଭ ଉଲଟାଇଦେଲେ। ପରେ ଅଗ୍ନିଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରତ୍ୟକ୍ଷ ଦେଖି ଦେବତାମାନେ ଦୟାଭାବରେ ଶୁକକୁ କହିଲେ—“ତୁ ଶୁକଯୋନିରେ ରହିଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସମ୍ପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ବାଣୀହୀନ ହେବୁ ନାହିଁ; କିଛି କିଛି କଥା କହିପାରିବୁ। ଜିଭ ଉଲଟିଗଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ତୋର ବାଣୀ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ମଧୁର ଓ ମନୋହର ହେବ। ଯେପରି ବୃଦ୍ଧଙ୍କୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଶିଶୁର ଅସ୍ପଷ୍ଟ, ଅଦ୍ଭୁତ ତୋତଲା କଥା ମିଠା ଲାଗେ, ସେପରି ତୋର କଥା ମଧ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରିୟ ଲାଗିବ।”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when a corrective consequence is imposed, dharma is fulfilled more fully when it is balanced with compassion; limitation can be accompanied by a compensating grace that preserves dignity and benefit to others.
Agni reverses Shuka’s tongue, restricting his speech; the gods, seeing Agni directly, pity Shuka and grant that although he will be in a parrot-birth, his speech will still be possible and will sound sweet and pleasing—like a child’s charming lisp.