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
毗湿摩说道：那鸟听罢，立刻在地上铺开许多树叶；继而竭尽双翼之力，迅疾飞去取火——显出应命之速与尽心尽力之诚。
Word by Word
एवम्thus
एवम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएवम्
उक्तःhaving been told / addressed
उक्तः:
TypeVerb
Rootवच्
Formक्त (past passive participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular
ततःthen, thereafter
ततः:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootततः
पक्षीthe bird
पक्षी:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootपक्षिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पर्णानिleaves
पर्णानि:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपर्ण
FormNeuter, Accusative, Plural
आस्तीर्यhaving spread (strewn)
आस्तीर्य:
TypeVerb
Rootस्तॄ
Formल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)
भूतलेon the ground
भूतले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootभूतल
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
यथाas, according to
यथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयथा
शक्त्याwith (his) power/ability
शक्त्या:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootशक्ति
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Singular
हिindeed, for
हि:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootहि
पर्णेनwith a leaf (i.e., by means of leaf)
पर्णेन:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootपर्ण
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
ज्वलनार्थम्for the purpose of fire (bringing fire)
ज्वलनार्थम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootज्वलनार्थ
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
द्रुतम्quickly
द्रुतम्:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootद्रुत
ययौwent
ययौ:
TypeVerb
Rootया
Formलिट् (perfect), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada
Speaker
भीष्म उवाच
Characters & Entities
P
pakṣī (bird)P
parṇāni (leaves)B
bhūtala (ground/earth)J
jvalana (fire)Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes
Educational Q&A
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.
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.