Shloka 11

Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala

On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving

Devanagari script

वाणीवादान्‌ शुकांश्वैव सारिकान्‌ भृंगराजकान्‌ | कोकिलान्‌ शतपपत्रांक्ष सकोयष्टिककुक्कुभान्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | vāṇīvādān śukāṁś caiva sārikān bhṛṅgarājakān | kokilān śatapatrākṣān sakoyaṣṭikakukku bhān | samantataḥ pramuditān dadarśa sumanoharān ||

Translation

王者环顾四方，见无数禽兽悦人心目：鹦鹉与八哥，似能以人语啭鸣；又有婆陵伽罗阇鸟、杜鹃等诸般可爱之鸟，皆欢然游行于四面。

Word by Word

• वाणीवादान्: speech-speaking (birds)
• वाणीवादान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाणीवाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शुकान्: parrots
• शुकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• एव: indeed/just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• सारिकान्: mynas
• सारिकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सारिका
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Plural

• भृंगराजकान्: bhringaraja birds (drongos/blackbirds)
• भृंगराजकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भृंगराजक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• कोकिलान्: cuckoos
• कोकिलान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोकिल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शतपपत्राक्षान्: those with hundred-petalled eyes (peacocks)
• शतपपत्राक्षान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतपपत्राक्ष
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• स: with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स

• कोयष्टिककुक्कुभान्: koyashti-birds and kukkubha-birds
• कोयष्टिककुक्कुभान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कोयष्टिककुक्कुभ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• समन्ततः: on all sides
• समन्ततः: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: समन्ततः

• प्रमुदितान्: delighted
• प्रमुदितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रमुदित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• ददर्श: saw
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular

• सुमनोहरान्: very charming
• सुमनोहरान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमनोहर
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• parrots (śuka)
• mynas (sārikā)
• bhṛṅgarāja birds
• cuckoos (kokila)
• śatapatra birds
• koyaṣṭika birds
• kukkubha (roosters)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse uses auspicious, harmonious nature imagery—birds joyfully moving and even seeming to speak like humans—to suggest the presence or fruits of order and well-being. In the Anuśāsana context, such harmony functions as a sign of a properly sustained dharmic environment and good governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a scene being observed: many kinds of pleasing birds (parrots, mynas, cuckoos, and others) are seen all around, delighted and moving about. The description sets an atmosphere of charm and auspiciousness within the ongoing discourse.