Shloka 25
Śikhaṇḍinī’s Marriage Arrangement and the Daśārṇa Envoy’s Accusation (शिखण्डिनी-विवाह-विप्रलम्भ-प्रसङ्गः)
धनेश्वरस्यानुचरो वरदो5स्मि नृपात्मजे । अदेयमपि दास्यामि ब्रूहि यत् ते विवक्षितम्
dhaneśvarasyānucaro varado 'smi nṛpātmaje | adeyam api dāsyāmi brūhi yat te vivakṣitam ||
Bhīṣma sprach: „O Prinzessin, ich bin ein Diener Kuberas, des Herrn des Reichtums, und besitze die Macht, Gaben zu gewähren. Sprich aus, was du wahrhaft begehrst; ich werde dir selbst das geben, was man gewöhnlich nicht geben darf.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical tension between power and propriety: the speaker claims the capacity to grant even what is normally “not to be given” (adeyam), implying that extraordinary power must still be weighed against dharma and rightful limits.
Bhīṣma addresses a princess and presents himself as Kubera’s attendant with boon-granting ability, inviting her to state her desire and promising fulfillment—even of requests that would typically be considered impermissible or unattainable.