Shloka 9
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
उष्टेषु यदि वा गोषु खरेष्वश्वेषु वा पुन: । वरिष्ठो भविता जन््तुः शून्यागारे शचीपते,शचीपते! किसी शून्य घरमें ऊँट, गौ, गर्दभ अथवा अश्वजातिके पशुओंमें जो श्रेष्ठ जीव उपलब्ध हो, उसे बलि समझो
uṣṭeṣu yadi vā goṣu khareṣv aśveṣu vā punaḥ | variṣṭho bhavitā jantuḥ śūnyāgāre śacīpate ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Herr der Śacī (Indra), wenn sich in einem leeren Haus Tiere wie Kamele, Rinder, Esel oder Pferde befinden, dann soll das beste Lebewesen unter ihnen als die angemessene Opfergabe (bali) gelten.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When circumstances limit one’s options, dharma is fulfilled by offering the best available within what is present; excellence of intent and selection (choosing the ‘variṣṭha’) is emphasized over abundance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he addresses Śacīpati (Indra) and lays down a rule-like guideline: if only certain animals are available in a vacant dwelling, the most excellent among them is to be treated as the appropriate offering.