Shloka 23
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
मुच्यतां त्रिदशेन्द्रोडयं मत्प्रियं कुरु भाविनि,'भाविनि! ये देवताओंके राजा इन्द्र हैं, इन्हें छोड़ दो। मेरा यह प्रिय कार्य करो। बोलो, मैं तुम्हारी कौन-सी अभिलाषा पूर्ण करूँ। तुम जिस किसी मनोरथको पाना चाहो उसे बताओ'
mucyatāṃ tridaśendro 'yaṃ matpriyaṃ kuru bhāvini | bhāvini ye devatānāṃ rājā indraḥ, etān muñca | mama idaṃ priyaṃ kāryaṃ kuru | brūhi, ahaṃ tava kāṃ kāmām abhilāṣāṃ pūrayāmi | tvaṃ yaṃ yaṃ manorathaṃ prāptum icchasi taṃ vada ||
ಭೀಷ್ಮನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಓ ಭಾವಿನಿ! ದೇವರಾಜನಾದ ಈ ಇಂದ್ರನನ್ನು ಬಿಡು. ನನಗೆ ಪ್ರಿಯವಾದ ಕಾರ್ಯವನ್ನು ಮಾಡು; ಅವನನ್ನು ಮುಕ್ತಗೊಳಿಸು. ಹೇಳು—ನಿನ್ನ ಯಾವ ಆಸೆಯನ್ನು ನಾನು ಪೂರೈಸಲಿ? ನೀನು ಪಡೆಯಲು ಬಯಸುವ ಯಾವ ಮನೋರಥವೋ ಅದನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸು.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds ethical restraint and compassionate action: even when one has power over another, dharma is served by releasing the worthy and by channeling one’s agency into a request that benefits order and righteousness, not domination.
Bhishma addresses a noble lady and urges her to release Indra, identified as the king of the gods. He frames this as a personal request and, in return, offers to fulfill any desire she may name—establishing a boon-like exchange grounded in persuasion rather than coercion.