Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 176
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
ततो मामाह देवेन्द्रस्तुष्टस्ते5हं द्विजोत्तम । वरं वृणीष्व मत्तस्त्वं यत् ते मनसि वर्तते
tato mām āha devendras tuṣṭas te ’haṃ dvijottama | varaṃ vṛṇīṣva mattas tvaṃ yat te manasi vartate ||
Alors Devendra (Indra), satisfait, me dit : « Ô le meilleur des brahmanes, je suis content de toi. Choisis de moi un don : quel que soit le souhait qui demeure en ton esprit, demande-le-moi. » En entendant les paroles d’Indra, mon cœur ne s’en trouva pas transporté; pourtant, par bienséance, affichant une joie de façade, je répondis au seigneur des dieux.
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when offered power or reward, one should remain inwardly steady and ethically discerning; outward politeness need not imply inner attachment, and boons should be approached with restraint and dharmic intent.
Indra, pleased, invites the addressed Brahmin-like figure (dvijottama) to choose any boon. The narrator (Vāsudeva) notes that he does not feel inner exhilaration, though he responds with outward courtesy, setting up what he will request or say next.