Shloka 22
Subhadrā-vilāpaḥ — Subhadrā’s Lament for Abhimanyu
Droṇa-parva 55
वरं वृणीष्व भद्रं ते यादृशं पुत्रमीप्सितम् । तथीक्तः प्राञ्जली राजा पुत्र॑ वव्रे गुणान्वितम्,(सर्व भवेत् प्रसादाद् वै तादृशं तनयं वृणे । “तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम्हें जैसा पुत्र अभीष्ट हो, उसके लिये वर माँगो”। नारदजीके ऐसा कहनेपर राजाने हाथ जोड़कर उनसे एक सदगुणसम्पन्न, यशस्वी, कीर्तिमान, तेजस्वी तथा शत्रुदमन पुत्र माँगा। वह बोला--'मुने! मैं ऐसे पुत्रकी याचना करता हूँ, जिसका मल, मूत्र, थूक और पसीना सब कुछ आपके कृपाप्रसादसे सुवर्णमय हो जाय”
varaṁ vṛṇīṣva bhadraṁ te yādṛśaṁ putram īpsitam | tathoktaḥ prāñjalī rājā putraṁ vavre guṇānvitam ||
“Choose a boon—may it be well with you—whatever kind of son you desire.” Thus addressed, the king, with palms joined in reverence, asked for a son endowed with virtues.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
When granted the freedom to ask for any boon, the dharmic choice is to prioritize character—virtue and worthy qualities—over external gains. The verse highlights that true prosperity in lineage and leadership begins with guṇa (ethical excellence).
A boon is offered: the recipient is invited to choose any kind of son he desires. The king responds with humility (hands joined) and requests a son endowed with virtues, indicating a value-driven aspiration rather than a merely strategic or material one.