Shloka 91
धर्मस्य बहुद्वारत्वम् — Nārada’s Audience with Indra (Śānti-parva 340)
वसानस्तत्र वै पुर्यामदितेरविप्रियंकरम्
vasānas tatra vai puryām aditer avipriyaṃkaram, kuśasthalīṃ nayiṣyāmi hatvā vai dānavottamam |
Bhīṣma dit : « En demeurant dans cette cité, j’ôterai ce qui déplaît à Aditi, mère des dieux, en tuant le plus éminent des Dānavas. Après avoir abattu le roi-démon Naraka, j’apporterai à Kuśasthalī tout l’éclat et les richesses qu’il avait amassés. »
(भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames the slaying of a tyrannical demon as a dharmic act: removing what harms the divine and the world, and restoring rightful order and prosperity. Power and wealth are portrayed as legitimate when reclaimed from oppression and redirected toward stable, righteous governance.
The speaker declares an intention to reside in a city and eliminate what causes distress to Aditi by killing a foremost Dānava—identified in context as Naraka (Narakāsura). After defeating Naraka, the victor will transfer Naraka’s royal wealth and splendor to Kuśasthalī, indicating conquest followed by relocation of resources to a secure, righteous center.