Shloka 22
Kāleya-Āśrama-Vināśaḥ — The Kāleyas’ nocturnal raids and the devas’ supplication to Nārāyaṇa
स एवमुकक्त्वा द्विपदां वरिष्ठ: प्राणान् वशी स्वान् सहसोत्ससर्ज | ततः सुरास्ते जगृहुः परासो- रस्थीनि तस्याथ यथोपदेशम्,ऐसा कहकर मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ, जितेन्द्रिय महर्षि दधीचने सहसा अपने प्राणोंका त्याग कर दिया। तब देवताओंने ब्रह्माजीके उपदेशके अनुसार महर्षिके निर्जीव शरीरसे हड्डियाँ ले लीं
sa evam uktvā dvipadāṁ variṣṭhaḥ prāṇān vaśī svān sahasotsasarja | tataḥ surās te jagṛhuḥ parāsoḥ asthīni tasyātha yathopadeśam ||
Having spoken thus, the best among men—self-controlled and master of his vital powers—Dadhīci suddenly relinquished his own life-breath. Then the gods, in accordance with the instruction given (by Brahmā), took the bones from his lifeless body, to be used for the divine purpose at hand. The episode foregrounds the ethic of self-sacrifice for the protection of the world and the fulfillment of dharma.
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic self-offering: a perfected ascetic, through mastery of prāṇa and senses, gives up his life for a higher collective good. It presents renunciation and compassion as ethical strength, where personal loss becomes a means to protect and sustain cosmic order.
Lomāśa recounts how the sage Dadhīci, after speaking, deliberately releases his life-breath. Following Brahmā’s instruction, the gods then take the sage’s bones from his lifeless body for their intended divine use.