Shloka 12
सुवर्णष्ठीविनोपाख्यानम्
The Account of Suvarṇaṣṭhīvin
देवानामविहिंसायां न भवेन्मानुषक्षयम् । तद् गृहाण महाराज पूजाहों नौ मतो भवान्
devānām avihiṁsāyāṁ na bhaven mānuṣa-kṣayam | tad gṛhāṇa mahārāja pūjyo ’haṁ nau mato bhavān ||
Nārada dit : «S’il y a non-violence envers les dieux, qu’il ne s’ensuive pas la destruction des hommes. Aussi, ô grand roi, reçois ce conseil : choisis un don tel que ni les dieux ne soient lésés, ni l’humanité conduite à la ruine. À nos yeux, tu es digne d’honneur.»
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous choice (such as a boon or policy) must be framed so that it does not cause harm to higher beings (devas) nor lead to mass human destruction; ethical restraint and protection of life are central to dharma.
Nārada addresses a king and urges him to accept guidance: he should ask for or adopt something that avoids violence against the gods and prevents the ruin of human beings, while also affirming the king’s honor-worthiness.