Shloka 1
शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः
The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana
अत्-#-#कञ एकोनपज्चाशर्दाधिकशततमो< ध्याय: बहेलियेको स्वर्गलोककी प्राप्ति भीष्म उवाच विमानस्थौ तु तौ राजन् लुब्धक: खे ददर्श ह । दृष्टवा तौ दम्पती राजन् व्यचिन्तयत तां गतिम्
bhīṣma uvāca | vimānasthau tu tau rājan lubdhakaḥ khe dadarśa ha | dṛṣṭvā tau dampatī rājan vyacintayata tāṃ gatiṃ |
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O Hari, nakita ng mangangaso ang dalawang ibong iyon, ngayo’y may anyong makalangit, nakaupo sa karwaheng panghimpapawid at dumaraan sa himpapawid. Pagkakita sa maningning na mag-asawang iyon na tila pinagpala, nagsimulang magnilay ang mangangaso sa sanhi at kahulugan ng kanilang dakilang kapalaran.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral awakening: witnessing an unexpected exalted destiny (gati) prompts self-inquiry into the causes of spiritual ascent—implying that dharma and merit can transform one’s end beyond outward appearances.
Bhishma narrates that a hunter sees a pair of birds in divine form riding a celestial vimāna through the sky; astonished, he begins to ponder how they attained such a blessed state.