Shloka 21
Aṣṭāvakra–Kahoda Upākhyāna: Śvetaketu’s Āśrama, Sarasvatī, and the Origin of Aṣṭāvakra
राजोवाच राष्ट्र शिबीनामृद्धं वै ददानि तव खेचर । यं वा कामयसे कामं॑ श्येन सर्व ददानि ते,राजाने कहा--विहंगम! मैं शिविदेशका समृद्धिशाली राज्य तुम्हें सौंप दूँगा, और भी जिस वस्तुकी तुम्हें इच्छा होगी वह सब दे सकता हूँ
rājovāca rāṣṭraṃ śibīnām ṛddhaṃ vai dadāni tava khecara | yaṃ vā kāmayase kāmaṃ śyena sarvaṃ dadāni te ||
The king said: “O bird that ranges the sky, I shall indeed grant you my prosperous realm of the Śibis. Or whatever desire you choose, O hawk Śyena—everything I will give to you.”
श्येन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights royal dharma expressed through dāna and protection: a righteous ruler is willing to surrender even sovereignty and wealth to prevent harm and to uphold ethical responsibility toward those seeking refuge.
In the Śibi episode, the king addresses the hawk and offers his prosperous kingdom—or any boon the hawk desires—attempting to satisfy the hawk without allowing violence against the one under the king’s protection.