Shloka 91
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
वसानस्तत्र वै पुर्यामदितेरविप्रियंकरम्,कुशस्थलीं नयिष्यामि हत्वा वै दानवोत्तमम् | वहाँ रहकर देवमाता अदितिका अप्रिय करनेवाले भूमिपुत्र नरकासुर, मुर तथा पीठ नामक दानवोंका संहार करूँगा एवं नाना प्रकारके धन-धान्यसे सम्पन्न जो प्राग्ज्योतिषपुर नामक रमणीय नगर है, वहाँ दानवराज नरकका वध करके उसका सारा वैभव कुशस्थलीमें पहुँचा दूँगा
vasānas tatra vai puryām aditer avipriyaṃkaram, kuśasthalīṃ nayiṣyāmi hatvā vai dānavottamam |
Bhishma said: “Dwelling there in that city, I shall remove what is displeasing to Aditi by slaying the foremost of the Dānavas. Having killed the demon-king Naraka, I shall bring his amassed splendor and wealth to Kuśasthalī.”
(भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the slaying of a tyrannical demon as a dharmic act: removing what harms the divine and the world, and restoring rightful order and prosperity. Power and wealth are portrayed as legitimate when reclaimed from oppression and redirected toward stable, righteous governance.
The speaker declares an intention to reside in a city and eliminate what causes distress to Aditi by killing a foremost Dānava—identified in context as Naraka (Narakāsura). After defeating Naraka, the victor will transfer Naraka’s royal wealth and splendor to Kuśasthalī, indicating conquest followed by relocation of resources to a secure, righteous center.