Shloka 5
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
उशीनरकुमार शिवि अपने प्यारे पुत्रके प्राणोंको ब्राह्मणके लिये निछावर करके यहाँसे स्वर्गलोकमें चले गये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | uśīnarakumāraḥ śibiḥ prāṇān priyaputrasya brāhmaṇārthe nīcchāvarīkṛtya iha tyaktvā svargalokaṃ gataḥ || pratardanaḥ kāśipatiḥ pradāya tanayaṃ svakaṃ brāhmaṇāya atulāṃ kīrtim iha ca amutra ca aśnute ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Śibi, prince de la lignée des Uśīnara, sacrifia même la vie de son fils bien-aimé pour un brāhmaṇa, et d’ici gagna le ciel. De même, Pratardana, seigneur de Kāśī, offrit son propre fils chéri au service d’un brāhmaṇa ; par cet acte, il acquit en ce monde une renommée sans pareille et, dans l’autre, jouit d’une félicité impérissable.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dāna and self-sacrifice performed for a worthy cause—here framed as service to a Brahmin—constitute high dharma, yielding both worldly renown (kīrti) and otherworldly reward (svarga/akṣaya ānanda).
Bhishma cites two exemplary kings: Śibi, who gives up even his beloved son’s life for a Brahmin and reaches heaven, and Pratardana of Kāśī, who offers his own son into a Brahmin’s service and thereby gains unmatched fame and lasting bliss after death.