Shloka 23
उवाचेदं मानुषा ये च दिव्या: प्रजापतेयें च लोका महान्त: । तांश्लेल्लभेयं संविदं तेन कृत्वा तथापि नेच्छेयमिति प्रतीत:,उन्होंने यह भी कहा है कि “जो मनुष्यलोक, दिव्यलोक और प्रजापतिके महान् लोक हैं, उन्हें भी यदि इन्द्रके साथ समझौता करके ही पा सकता हूँ तो भी मैं बृहस्पतिजीको अपने यज्ञका पुरोहित बनाना नहीं चाहता हूँ। यह मैं दृढ़ निश्चयके साथ कह रहा हूँ!
uvācedaṃ mānuṣā ye ca divyāḥ prajāpateyeṃ ca lokā mahāntaḥ | tāñ ślellabheyaṃ saṃvidaṃ tena kṛtvā tathāpi neccheyam iti pratītaḥ ||
Vyāsa said: “Even if the great worlds—human, divine, and those belonging to Prajāpati—could be obtained only by entering into a pact with Indra, still I would not choose Bṛhaspati as the officiating priest of my sacrifice. This is my settled and unwavering resolve.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights steadfast ethical resolve: even immense rewards (exalted worlds) are not worth accepting a course of action one judges improper. It frames dharma as integrity that does not bend for gain, even when the gain is cosmic in scale.
Vyāsa reports a speaker’s firm declaration: even if access to the highest realms required making an agreement with Indra, the speaker would still refuse to appoint Bṛhaspati as the priest for the sacrifice, emphasizing an unshakeable decision despite tempting outcomes.