Shloka 21
मायासभायां दुर्योधनस्य अवमान-प्रसङ्गः
Duryodhana’s Humiliation in the Hall of Māyā
मा भेस्त्वं देवि धर्मज्ञे न मत्तोडस्ति भयं तव । ददामि कं वरं कि च करवाणि पितृष्वस:,*देवि! धर्मज्ञे! तुम डरो मत। तुम्हें मुझसे कोई भय नहीं है। बुआ! तुम्हीं कहो, मैं तुम्हें कौन-सा वर दूँ? तुम्हारा कौन-सा कार्य सिद्ध कर दूँ?
mā bhaiṣṭvaṃ devi dharmajñe na matto 'sti bhayaṃ tava | dadāmi kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ ca karavāṇi pitṛṣvasaḥ ||
“দেবি, ধর্মজ্ঞে! ভয় কোরো না; আমার থেকে তোমার কোনো ভয় নেই। পিতৃবোন, বলো—আমি তোমাকে কোন বর দেব, আর তোমার কোন কাজ সম্পন্ন করে দেব?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic protector first removes fear and establishes trust: power should be exercised with restraint, reassurance, and readiness to serve rightful requests, especially within bonds of kinship and duty.
Bhishma addresses a woman related to him as his paternal aunt, calms her anxiety by declaring she has nothing to fear from him, and offers to grant a boon or fulfill whatever purpose she seeks.