Shloka 12
सुवर्णष्ठीविनोपाख्यानम्
The Account of Suvarṇaṣṭhīvin
देवानामविहिंसायां न भवेन्मानुषक्षयम् । तद् गृहाण महाराज पूजाहों नौ मतो भवान्,महाराज! कोई ऐसा वर माँग लो, जिससे न तो देवताओंकी हिंसा हो और न मनुष्योंका संहार ही हो सके। तुम हमारी दृष्टिमें आदरके योग्य हो”
devānām avihiṁsāyāṁ na bhaven mānuṣa-kṣayam | tad gṛhāṇa mahārāja pūjyo ’haṁ nau mato bhavān ||
Nārada berkata: “Hendaknya tanpa kekerasan terhadap para dewa, jangan sampai timbul kebinasaan manusia. Maka, wahai maharaja, terimalah nasihat kami ini: pilihlah anugerah yang tidak melukai para dewa dan tidak membawa kehancuran bagi umat manusia. Dalam pandangan kami, engkau layak dihormati.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
A righteous choice (such as a boon or policy) must be framed so that it does not cause harm to higher beings (devas) nor lead to mass human destruction; ethical restraint and protection of life are central to dharma.
Nārada addresses a king and urges him to accept guidance: he should ask for or adopt something that avoids violence against the gods and prevents the ruin of human beings, while also affirming the king’s honor-worthiness.