Shloka 21
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 97: Satyavatī’s appeal and Bhīṣma’s reaffirmation of satya
वसव ऊचु. तुरीयार्ध प्रदास्पामो वीर्यस्यैकैकशो वयम् | तेन वीर्येण पुत्रस्ते भविता तस्य चेप्सित:,वसुगण बोले--हम सब लोग अपने तेजका एक-एक अष्टमांश देंगे। उस तेजसे जो तुम्हारा एक पुत्र होगा, वह उस राजाकी इच्छाके अनुरूप होगा
vasava ūcuḥ | turīyārdhaṃ pradāsyāmo vīryasyaikaikaśo vayam | tena vīryeṇa putras te bhavitā tasya cepsitaḥ ||
Les Vasus dirent : «Chacun de nous apportera une part de sa propre puissance, l’un après l’autre, de sorte qu’une quatrième portion soit conférée. De cette force réunie, tu auras un fils, et ce fils sera conforme au désir du roi.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even divine powers operate within moral causality: a boon is granted in measured form, and the resulting birth is framed as fulfilling rightful desire while still reflecting the constraints created by prior actions.
The Vasus collectively promise to contribute portions of their potency so that a child will be born to the woman addressed, and that child will match the king’s wish—setting up the extraordinary birth and destiny associated with the Vasus’ involvement.