Shloka 9
Adhyāya 223: Nāradasya Guṇa-kathana
Catalogue of Nārada’s Virtues
उष्टेषु यदि वा गोषु खरेष्वश्वेषु वा पुन: । वरिष्ठो भविता जन््तुः शून्यागारे शचीपते,शचीपते! किसी शून्य घरमें ऊँट, गौ, गर्दभ अथवा अश्वजातिके पशुओंमें जो श्रेष्ठ जीव उपलब्ध हो, उसे बलि समझो
uṣṭeṣu yadi vā goṣu khareṣv aśveṣu vā punaḥ | variṣṭho bhavitā jantuḥ śūnyāgāre śacīpate ||
Bhīṣma dijo: “Oh señor de Śacī (Indra), si en una casa vacía hay animales como camellos, reses, asnos o caballos, entonces el ser viviente que sea el mejor entre ellos debe ser tenido por la ofrenda (bali) adecuada.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
When circumstances limit one’s options, dharma is fulfilled by offering the best available within what is present; excellence of intent and selection (choosing the ‘variṣṭha’) is emphasized over abundance.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he addresses Śacīpati (Indra) and lays down a rule-like guideline: if only certain animals are available in a vacant dwelling, the most excellent among them is to be treated as the appropriate offering.