Shloka 12
Ākiṃcanya–Tyāga Upadeśa
The Instruction on Non-ownership and Renunciation
देशे समे सुखे चित्रे स्वर्गोद्दिशसमे नृप । श्रिया जुष्टं महावृक्ष॑ न्यग्रोध॑ च सुमण्डलम्
bhīṣma uvāca | deśe same sukhe citre svargoddiśa-same nṛpa | śriyā juṣṭaṃ mahāvṛkṣaṃ nyagrodhaṃ ca sumaṇḍalam |
毗湿摩说道：大王啊，在一处平坦、怡悦而奇妙的境地——美如天界之域——乔达摩看见一株宏伟的榕树（尼耶伽罗陀），福泽相随，圆满如轮的树冠四面铺展。它以无数秀枝显得如同广大的王者华盖；其根又以檀香熏润之水滋养——此等吉祥之境，使后续的教诲得以在宁静、清净与对法（Dharma）的观照中展开。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse prepares a dharmic discourse by placing it in an auspicious, serene environment: a heavenly-like landscape and a banyan resembling a royal parasol. The ethical suggestion is that clarity about dharma is best approached in purity, calmness, and reverence—outer order mirroring inner discipline.
Bhishma describes to the king how the sage Gautama arrives at a delightful, level region and sees a splendid banyan tree with a circular canopy, like a great umbrella, its roots tended with sandalwood-scented water—setting the scene for what follows.