Shloka 10

Janamejaya’s Appeal for Pacification and Śaunaka’s Counsel on Humility (जनमेजय-शौनक संवादः)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तत: पक्षी पर्णान्यास्तीर्य भूतले । यथाशकत्या हि पर्णेन ज्वलनार्थ द्रुतं ययौ

Transliteration

evam uktas tataḥ pakṣī parṇāny āstīrya bhūtale | yathāśaktyā hi parṇena jvalanārthaṃ drutaṃ yayau ||

Translation

یوں کہے جانے پر پرندے نے زمین پر بہت سے پتے بچھا دیے، پھر اپنی بساط کے مطابق پروں کے زور سے آگ لانے کے لیے تیزی سے اُڑ گیا۔

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been told / addressed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ततः: then, thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• पक्षी: the bird
• पक्षी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पर्णानि: leaves
• पर्णानि: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Plural

• आस्तीर्य: having spread (strewn)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्तॄ
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• भूतले: on the ground
• भूतले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूतल
• Form: Neuter, Locative, Singular

• यथा: as, according to
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा

• शक्त्या: with (his) power/ability
• शक्त्या: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• हि: indeed, for
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि

• पर्णेन: with a leaf (i.e., by means of leaf)
• पर्णेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पर्ण
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• ज्वलनार्थम्: for the purpose of fire (bringing fire)
• ज्वलनार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्वलनार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• द्रुतम्: quickly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: द्रुत

• ययौ: went
• Type: Verb
• Root: या
• Form: लिट् (perfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• pakṣī (bird)
• parṇāni (leaves)
• bhūtala (ground/earth)
• jvalana (fire)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights prompt, sincere service: one should act without delay and contribute according to one’s capacity (yathāśaktyā), making earnest effort even in small tasks.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being instructed, the bird spreads leaves on the ground as preparation and then quickly flies off to bring fire, using its wings with all the strength it can muster.