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Shloka 226

अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च

Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations

स्वरेण मधुरेणाथ सान्त्वयन्निव भारत । महाबाहु भारत! तब ब्रह्माजीने उस ब्रह्महत्याको अपनी मीठी वाणीद्वारा सान्त्वना देते हुए-से उससे कहा--

svareṇa madhureṇātha sāntvayann iva bhārata | mahābāho bhārata! tadā brahmājī tena brahmahatyāṃ svayā mīṭhī vāṇyā sāntvayann iva tām uvāca—

Bhishma said: “O Bharata, in a gentle and sweet tone, as though consoling her, Brahmā then addressed that Brahmahatyā—speaking to her with soothing words.”

स्वरेणwith (his) voice/tone
स्वरेण:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootस्वर
Formmasculine, instrumental, singular
मधुरेणsweet, pleasant
मधुरेण:
Karana
TypeAdjective
Rootमधुर
Formmasculine, instrumental, singular
अथthen, now
अथ:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ
सान्त्वयन्comforting, consoling
सान्त्वयन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootसान्त्वय् (सान्त्वयति)
Formशतृ (present active participle), masculine, nominative, singular
इवas if, like
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
भारतO Bharata (descendant of Bharata)
भारत:
TypeNoun
Rootभारत
Formmasculine, vocative, singular

भीष्म उवाच

B
Bhishma
B
Bharata (listener, typically Yudhishthira)
B
Brahma
B
Brahmahatya

Educational Q&A

Even when dealing with grave wrongdoing or its consequences, the text highlights the ethical power of gentle, pacifying speech—authority (Brahmā) responds not with harshness but with calming words, implying that restoration of dharma often begins with compassionate guidance.

Bhishma narrates a scene in which Brahmā addresses the personified Brahmahatyā (the consequence/sin of Brahmin-slaying). Brahmā speaks in a sweet tone, as if consoling her, setting up the next instruction or resolution in the episode.