Shloka 18
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
राजा मित्रसहश्चैव वसिष्ठाय महात्मने । मदयमन्तीं प्रियां भार्या दत्त्वा च त्रिदिवं गत:,राजा मित्रसह महात्मा वसिष्ठ मुनिको अपनी प्यारी पत्नी मदयन्ती सेवाके लिये देकर स्वर्गलोकमें चले गये
rājā mitrasahaś caiva vasiṣṭhāya mahātmane | madayantīṁ priyāṁ bhāryāṁ dattvā ca tridivaṁ gataḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: “Raja Mitrasaha, setelah menyerahkan istri tercintanya Madayantī kepada resi agung Vasiṣṭha untuk pelayanan, kemudian berangkat menuju dunia surga.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores prioritizing dharma as understood through reverence to a venerable sage/teacher: personal attachment is subordinated to a duty of service, and such conduct is presented as leading to spiritual merit (symbolized by attaining heaven).
Bhishma cites an example: King Mitrasaha gives his beloved wife Madayantī to the sage Vasiṣṭha for service, and afterward the king departs to heaven, implying the act is treated as dharmically significant within the discourse.