Shloka 16
Jatāyu’s Resistance, Sītā’s Traces, Kabandha’s Release, and the Path to Sugrīva (Āraṇyaka-parva 263)
दुर्वाया उवाच वरं वरय भद्रं ते यत् ते मनसि वर्तते । मयि प्रीते तु यद् धर्म्य नालभ्यं विद्यते तव,दुर्वासा बोले--राजन! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम्हारे मनमें जो इच्छा हो, उसके लिये वर माँगो। मेरे प्रसन्न होनेपर जो धर्मानुकूल वस्तु होगी, वह तुम्हारे लिये अलभ्य नहीं रहेगी
durvāsā uvāca: varaṁ varaya bhadraṁ te yat te manasi vartate | mayi prīte tu yad dharmyaṁ nālabhyaṁ vidyate tava ||
दुर्वासा बोले—राजन्! तुम्हारा कल्याण हो। तुम्हारे मन में जो इच्छा हो, उसके लिए वर माँगो। मेरे प्रसन्न होने पर जो धर्मानुकूल वस्तु होगी, वह तुम्हारे लिए अलभ्य नहीं रहेगी।
दुर्वाया उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even extraordinary power (a sage’s boon) is framed by dharma: what is granted should be ethically permissible, implying that desire must be disciplined by righteousness.
Durvāsā, having been pleased, offers a boon and invites the recipient to ask for whatever is in the mind, with the condition that it be dharma-consistent and thus attainable through his favor.