Shloka 7
Tapas as the Root of Attainment (तपः—साधनमूलप्रशंसा)
नल्वमात्रपरीणाहो घनच्छायो वनस्पति: । सारिकाशुकसंजुष्ट: पुष्पवान्ू फलवानपि,उस वृक्षकी लंबाई चार सौ हाथकी थी। छाया बड़ी सघन थी। उसपर तोते और मैनाओंके समूह बसेरा लेते थे। वह वृक्ष फल और फूल दोनोंसे ही भरा था
nalvamātraparīṇāho ghanacchāyo vanaspatiḥ | sārikāśukasaṃjuṣṭaḥ puṣpavān phalavān api ||
Bhishma disse: “Ali erguia-se uma grande árvore; seu tronco não era de grande circunferência, mas sua sombra era densa e profunda. Bandos de mainás e papagaios a frequentavam, e ela estava carregada tanto de flores quanto de frutos.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse uses a vivid natural image to suggest that a single source of goodness and abundance can become a refuge for many. Ethically, it points toward the value of being supportive—like a flourishing tree that offers shade, food, and a dwelling-place to others.
Bhishma is describing a remarkable tree: slender in girth yet with a dense canopy, inhabited by parrots and mynas, and filled with flowers and fruits. The description functions as a scene-setting image within his broader instruction in Shanti Parva.