Shloka 563
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
यथागतं महाराज मुक््त्वा विषमिवोरग: । भृगुवंशी महर्षे! मैंने इन राजासे अपनी जातिका त्याग करवा दिया।” महाराज! तदनन्तर महर्षिकी आज्ञा लेकर राजा प्रतर्दन जैसे साँप अपने विषको त्याग देता है
yathāgataṃ mahārāja muktvā viṣam ivoragaḥ | bhṛguvaṃśī maharṣe! mayā ineṃ rājāse āpanī jātikā tyāga karvā diyā | mahārāja! tad-anantaraṃ maharṣer ājñāṃ labdhvā rājā pratardanaḥ yathā sarpaḥ sva-viṣaṃ tyajati, tathā krodhaṃ tyaktvā yathāgataṃ eva pratyagāt |
Bhishma berkata, “Wahai maharaja, setelah memperoleh izin sang resi, Raja Pratardana kembali seperti saat ia datang—menanggalkan amarahnya, laksana ular yang melepaskan bisanya. Wahai maharsi dari garis Bhrigu, aku membuat raja ini menanggalkan keangkuhan kelahirannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true refinement is shown by abandoning anger and pride in birth; under a sage’s guidance, one should return to composure, shedding wrath as a snake sheds its poison.
Bhishma narrates that after receiving the sage’s permission, King Pratardana departs peacefully, having given up anger; Bhishma also remarks that he made the king renounce attachment to his caste/lineage identity.