Shloka 29
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
विदित्वा च दृढां भक्ति तां शुके शीलसम्पदम् | प्रीत: क्षिप्रमथो वृक्षममृतेनावसिक्तवान्
viditvā ca dṛḍhāṃ bhaktiṃ tāṃ śuke śīla-sampadam | prītaḥ kṣipram atho vṛkṣam amṛtenāvasiktavān |
शुके दृढां भक्तिं शीलसम्पदं च विदित्वा स प्रीतिमान् इन्द्रः। क्षिप्रमथ तं वृक्षम् अमृतेनावसिञ्चत्॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links spiritual devotion (bhakti) with ethical character (śīla): steadfast devotion that is supported by good conduct becomes especially worthy, and such integrity naturally attracts benevolent support—symbolized here by Indra’s life-giving nectar.
Bhishma narrates that Indra, seeing Shuka’s firm devotion and exemplary conduct, becomes delighted and immediately sprinkles a tree with amrita, indicating a divine response that revitalizes and blesses.