Shloka 57
Āṇīmāṇḍavya–Upākhyāna
The Account of Āṇīmāṇḍavya and the Birth of Vidura
वैशम्पायन उवाच नाकामयत त॑ दातुं वरं दाशाय शान्तनु: । शरीरजेन तीव्रेण दह्ममानोडपि भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजा शान्तनु प्रचण्ड कामाग्निसे जल रहे थे, तो भी उनके मनमें निषादको वह वर देनेकी इच्छा नहीं हुई
vaiśampāyana uvāca
nākāmayata taṁ dātuṁ varaṁ dāśāya śāntanuḥ |
śarīrajena tīvreṇa dahyamāno 'pi bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: „O Bhārata (Janamejaya), obwohl König Śāntanu von einem heftigen, aus dem Leib geborenen Feuer der Begierde versengt wurde, wollte er dem Fischer jenen Wunsch dennoch nicht gewähren.“
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when desire burns intensely, a ruler is expected to weigh promises and actions against dharma and broader obligations; inner passion does not automatically justify granting requests that may compromise duty or lineage responsibilities.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that King Śāntanu, though tormented by strong desire, hesitates to grant a demanded boon to the fisherman—setting up the tension that will lead to major decisions affecting the Kuru dynasty.