Shloka 6
Prajñā as Pratiṣṭhā — Indra–Kāśyapa Saṃvāda (Śānti-parva 12.173)
स पूर्वसंध्यां ब्रह्माणं वन्दितुं याति सर्वदा । मां वा दृष्टवा कदाचित् स न गच्छति गृहं खग:
sa pūrva-sandhyāṃ brahmāṇaṃ vandituṃ yāti sarvadā | māṃ vā dṛṣṭvā kadācit sa na gacchati gṛhaṃ khagaḥ ||
Бхишма сказал: «Та птица всегда на утренней сандхье — в стыке ночи и дня — отправлялась воздать почтение Брахме. И, возвращаясь оттуда, увидев меня, она никогда не шла прямо домой, не встретившись прежде со мной.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights disciplined devotion (regular worship at sandhyā) and steadfast gratitude/loyalty (not returning home without meeting the revered person), presenting ritual piety and personal reverence as complementary virtues.
Bhishma describes a particular bird’s routine: it goes every morning at the sandhyā-time to salute Brahmā, and after returning it makes sure to see Bhishma before going back to its own home.