Shloka 873

Kubera’s Fivefold Nīti and Protection of the Pāṇḍavas (वैश्रवणोपदेशः)

Devanagari script

परस्परमुदी क्षन्ते बहवो जीवजीवका: । 'पार्थ! वृक्षोंकी ऊँची शिखाओंपर बैठे हुए लाल, गुलाबी और पीले रंगके चकोर पक्षी एक-दूसरेकी ओर देख रहे हैं

Transliteration

parasparam udīkṣante bahavo jīva-jīvakāḥ | pārtha! vṛkṣāṇāṃ ūrdhva-śikhāsu niṣaṇṇāḥ lohita-pāṭala-pīta-varṇāś cakorāḥ parasparam īkṣante |

Translation

ไวศัมปายนะกล่าวว่า—“สรรพชีวิตมากมายต่างมองกันและกัน” โอ้ปารถะ! เหล่านกจักโกรสีแดง สีชมพู และสีเหลือง ซึ่งเกาะอยู่บนยอดไม้สูงลิ่ว กำลังจ้องมองกันไปมา

Word by Word

परस्परम्mutually, to one another

उदीक्षन्तेthey look (up/at), they gaze

बहवःmany

जीवजीवकाःchakora birds (a kind of bird)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Pārtha (Arjuna)

trees (vṛkṣa)

cakora birds (cakora)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights mindful observation and the mutuality of living beings in the forest, suggesting an ethical mood of restraint and attentiveness—seeing life as interconnected rather than as mere background to human struggle.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana describes a forest tableau to Pārtha (Arjuna): many creatures are watching one another, and cakora birds of varied colors sit on high treetops, gazing at each other—setting a contemplative atmosphere within the Vana Parva setting.