Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
कृपा : कर ् न फ सदैव शकुनास्तात मृगाश्चाथ तथा गजा: । वसन्ति तव संहृष्टा मनोहर मनोहरा:
kṛpāḥ karṇaphāḥ sadaiva śakunās tāta mṛgāś cātha tathā gajāḥ | vasanti tava saṁhṛṣṭā manohara manoharāḥ ||
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ତାତ, ମନୋହର ବୃକ୍ଷରାଜ! ତୁମ ଶାଖାରେ ସଦା ଅନେକ ପକ୍ଷୀ ବସନ୍ତି; ତଳେ ଅସଂଖ୍ୟ ମୃଗ ଓ ଗଜମାନେ ମଧ୍ୟ ଆନନ୍ଦରେ ରହନ୍ତି। ତୁମ ସାନ୍ନିଧ୍ୟ ହିଁ ପ୍ରାଣୀମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ହୋଇ, ସେମାନଙ୍କୁ ଶାନ୍ତିରେ ଏକତ୍ର କରେ।
भीष्म उवाच
A dhārmic person (or a noble refuge like the ‘king of trees’) supports others without discrimination: even diverse beings—birds, deer, elephants—find safety and joy. The ethical ideal is to become a shelter that enables life to flourish.
Bhīṣma addresses a ‘manohara’ great tree, praising it as a hospitable refuge where birds perch on the branches and animals—including elephants—live contentedly beneath, highlighting the tree’s protective, life-sustaining presence.