Taḍāga-Phala and Vṛkṣāropaṇa
Merit of Ponds and Tree-Planting
ततः सूर्यो मधुरया वाचा तमिदमत्रवीत् | कृताञ्जलि्-प्ररूपी प्रणम्यैनं विशाम्पते
tataḥ sūryo madhurayā vācā tam idam atravīt | kṛtāñjali-prarūpī praṇamya enaṃ viśāmpate ||
Bhīṣma nói: Bấy giờ Thần Mặt Trời, với lời lẽ dịu dàng, đã nói với ngài như sau—chắp tay cung kính, cúi mình đảnh lễ, hỡi bậc chúa của muôn dân.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse foregrounds ethical communication and humility: even a powerful divine figure (Surya) speaks with gentleness and approaches with folded hands and a bow, modeling respectful conduct and the dharmic ideal of courteous speech.
Bhishma narrates a moment where Surya begins a discourse. The Sun-god respectfully approaches the person addressed (called 'viśāmpati', lord of the people) and then speaks, marking the start of divine instruction or counsel.