अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
त्वं हि देवेश सर्वस्य जगत: परमा गति: । को<न्य: प्रसादो हि भवेद् यन्नः कृच्छात् समुद्धरेत्,देवेश्वरर आप ही इस सम्पूर्ण जगतके परम आश्रय हैं। आप हमारा इस संकटसे उद्धार कर दें, इससे बढ़कर हम लोगोंपर दूसरा कौन अनुग्रह होगा
tvaṁ hi deveśa sarvasya jagataḥ paramā gatiḥ | ko 'nyaḥ prasādo hi bhaved yan naḥ kṛcchrāt samuddharet ||
Bhishma said: “O Lord of the gods, you are indeed the supreme refuge and final resort of this entire world. What greater grace could there be than that you lift us out of this distress?”
भीष्म उवाच
The verse frames the divine as the highest refuge (paramā gatiḥ) for all beings and presents deliverance from संकट (kṛcchra) as the greatest form of grace (prasāda). Ethically, it emphasizes humility and reliance on a higher moral order when human strength and strategy are insufficient.
Bhishma, speaking in the Shanti Parva context, addresses the Lord of the gods in a supplicatory tone, acknowledging the deity’s universal sovereignty and asking to be rescued from a pressing संकट, declaring that no other favor could surpass such deliverance.