Shloka 16
तमेवं शुभकर्माणं शुकं परमधार्मिकम् | विजानन्नपि तां प्रीतिं पप्रच्छ बलसूदन:,*वृक्षके प्रति इस तोतेका कितना प्रेम है” इस बातको जानते हुए भी बलसूदन इन्द्रने शुभकर्म करनेवाले उस परम धर्मात्मा शुकसे पूछा--
tam evaṁ śubhakarmāṇaṁ śukaṁ paramadhārmikam | vijānann api tāṁ prītiṁ papraccha balasūdanaḥ ||
بھیشم نے کہا—نیک اعمال کرنے والے اس نہایت دھرماتما شُک کی وہ گہری محبت جانتے ہوئے بھی، بل سُودن اندر نے اس سے پوچھا—“اس درخت کے ساتھ تمہاری محبت کتنی ہے؟”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when one believes the truth is already known, dharmic understanding is refined through respectful questioning. The verse frames love (prīti) and righteousness (dharma) as qualities worth examining carefully, not merely assuming.
Bhishma narrates that Indra, called Balasudana, approaches the virtuous parrot Shuka. Though Indra already knows about Shuka’s affection toward the tree, he still asks Shuka about it—setting up a moral discussion about devotion, gratitude, and steadfastness.