Shloka 36
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तान् ब्रह्मोवाच ऋषिर्भार्गवस्तपस्तप्यते दधीच: स याच्यतां वरं स यथा कलेवरं जह्यात् तथा विधीयतां तस्यास्थिभिर्वज्ज॑ क्रियतामिति
tān brahmovāca ṛṣir bhārgavas tapaḥ tapyate dadhīcaḥ sa yācyatāṃ varaṃ sa yathā kalevaraṃ jahyāt tathā vidhīyatāṃ tasyāsthibhir vajraṃ kriyatām iti
Brahmā leur dit : «Le sage de la lignée Bhārgava pratique l’ascèse, et Dadhīci aussi. Allez trouver Dadhīci et demandez-lui une grâce : faites en sorte qu’il quitte son corps ; et de ses os, façonnez un vajra, l’arme de la foudre.»
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
That extraordinary power meant for protecting order should arise from dharmic means: voluntary renunciation and tapas, not force. The text highlights consent (a boon requested) and the ideal of self-sacrifice directed toward a larger good.
Brahmā advises that the sage Dadhīci be asked for a boon so that he may give up his body, and that his bones be used to craft a vajra (thunderbolt weapon), implying a planned act of self-offering to enable a decisive instrument for restoring balance.