Mahabharata 1.94.9 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 94, Shloka 9
Śāṃtanu’s Ideal Rule; Devavrata’s Return; The Satyavatī Marriage Condition and Bhīṣma’s Vow (आदि पर्व, अध्याय ९४)
ययातिरुवाच यथा त्वमिन्द्रप्रतिमप्रभाव- स्ते चाप्यनन्ता नरदेव लोका: । तथाद्य लोके न रमे<न्यदत्ते तस्माच्छिबे नाभिनन्दामि देयम्
yayātir uvāca yathā tvam indrapratimaprabhāvas te cāpy anantā naradeva lokāḥ | tathādya loke na rame ’nyadatte tasmāc chibe nābhinandāmi deyam ||
قال يَياطي: «يا شيبي، يا ملكَ البشر! كما أن سلطانك يشبه سلطان إندرا، كذلك تُوصَف العوالم التي تعرضها بأنها لا نهاية لها. غير أني لا أستطيع أن أهنأ بعالمٍ يمنحه غيري؛ لذلك، يا شيبي، لا أتلقّى عطيتك بالثناء ولا أقبلها.»
प्रतर्दन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even an exalted reward loses its value if it is merely received from another; true fulfillment is tied to what one has earned through one’s own conduct and merit, not to borrowed or transferred enjoyment.
Yayāti addresses King Śibi, acknowledging Śibi’s Indra-like power and the vastness of the worlds he offers, but refuses to rejoice in or accept a realm that comes as another’s gift, emphasizing the principle of self-earned attainment.
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