Shloka 8
Ānṛśaṃsya–Bhakti: Śukaḥ Śakreṇa Parīkṣitaḥ
Compassion and Devotion—The Parrot Tested by Indra
निष्प्रचारो निराहारो ग्लान: शिथिलवागपि । कृतज्ञः: सह वृक्षेण धर्मात्मा सो5प्यशुष्यत
niṣpracāro nirāhāro glānaḥ śithilavāk api | kṛtajñaḥ saha vṛkṣeṇa dharmātmā so 'py aśuṣyat ||
毗湿摩说道：那只守法而知恩的鹦鹉，因感戴之心，不再往来，也停止觅食。它羸弱憔悴，连言语都变得无力。就这样，依偎着那棵树，它自身也随树一同渐渐枯槁——是困厄中仍坚守忠诚与报恩的伦理写照。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights kṛtajñatā (gratitude) as a dharmic virtue: one should remember and honor benefactors, remaining loyal even when circumstances turn painful, rather than abandoning them for self-interest.
A righteous parrot stays with a tree to which he is grateful. As the tree dries up, the parrot stops roaming, stops eating, becomes too weak to speak, and withers along with the tree—showing steadfast attachment born of gratitude.