Shloka 23
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
मुच्यतां त्रिदशेन्द्रोडयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भाविनि
mucyatāṃ tridaśendro 'yaṃ matpriyaṃ kuru bhāvini | bhāvini ye devatānāṃ rājā indraḥ, etān muñca | mama idaṃ priyaṃ kāryaṃ kuru | brūhi, ahaṃ tava kāṃ kāmām abhilāṣāṃ pūrayāmi | tvaṃ yaṃ yaṃ manorathaṃ prāptum icchasi taṃ vada ||
भीष्म ने कहा—हे भाविनि! देवताओं के राजा इन्द्र को छोड़ दो। मेरा प्रिय कार्य करो; इन्हें मुक्त कर दो। बताओ—मैं तुम्हारी कौन-सी अभिलाषा पूर्ण करूँ? जो भी मनोरथ तुम्हें पाना हो, कहो।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical restraint and compassionate action: even when one has power over another, dharma is served by releasing the worthy and by channeling one’s agency into a request that benefits order and righteousness, not domination.
Bhishma addresses a noble lady and urges her to release Indra, identified as the king of the gods. He frames this as a personal request and, in return, offers to fulfill any desire she may name—establishing a boon-like exchange grounded in persuasion rather than coercion.