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 ||
Disse Bhishma: Tomado por grande júbilo, com os olhos trêmulos e marejados, ele fitou a ave e falou. Tendo visto aquele śakuni (a ave) e agindo segundo o rito prescrito pela regra sagrada, ofereceu-lhe a devida hospitalidade, com o coração movido pela reverência ao dharma e pelo dever de honrar o hóspede.
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.