Shloka 28
वरं वृणीष्वेति तदा स च वव्रे वरं शुक: । आनुृशंस्यपरो नित्यं तस्य वृक्षस्य सम्भवम्,'शुक! तुम मुझसे कोई वर माँगो।” तब दयापरायण शुकने यह वर माँगा कि “यह वृक्ष पहलेकी ही भाँति हरा-भरा हो जाय”
varaṁ vṛṇīṣveti tadā sa ca vavre varaṁ śukaḥ | ānṛśaṁsyaparo nityaṁ tasya vṛkṣasya sambhavam ||
Bhīṣma disse: Então ele lhe disse: “Escolhe uma dádiva.” E Śuka —sempre devotado à compaixão— escolheu esta dádiva: que a árvore fosse restaurada ao seu estado anterior, tornando-se novamente verde e viçosa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ānṛśaṁsya (compassion/non-cruelty): when offered a boon, the virtuous person seeks restoration and welfare rather than personal gain, showing that ethical excellence expresses itself as kindness toward living beings and the world.
A boon is offered (“Choose a boon”), and Śuka—described as consistently compassionate—asks that the tree be returned to its earlier flourishing condition, i.e., restored to green, healthy life.