Shloka 4
Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura
जिजीविषूणां जीवानामात्मा प्रेष्ठ इहेप्सित: । क उत्सहेत तं दातुं भिक्षमाणाय विष्णवे ॥ ४ ॥
jijīviṣūṇāṁ jīvānām ātmā preṣṭha ihepsitaḥ ka utsaheta taṁ dātuṁ bhikṣamāṇāya viṣṇave
ഈ ലോകത്ത് ജീവിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്ന ജീവികൾക്ക് സ്വന്തം ശരീരമാണ് ഏറ്റവും പ്രിയം. അതിനെ രക്ഷിക്കാൻ എല്ലാം ത്യജിക്കും; അപ്പോൾ വിഷ്ണു തന്നെയെങ്കിലും ചോദിച്ചാൽ ശരീരം ആരാണ് നൽകുക?
It is said, ātmānaṁ sarvato rakṣet tato dharmaṁ tato dhanam: one must protect his body by all means; then he may protect his religious principles and thereafter his possessions. This is the natural desire of all living entities. No one wants to give up his body unless it is forcibly given away. Even though the demigods said that they were demanding Dadhīci’s body for their benefit in accordance with the order of Lord Viṣṇu, Dadhīci superficially refused to give them his body.
FAQs
This verse highlights that life is the dearest possession for embodied beings, yet true surrender means offering even that—especially when it is requested in service to Lord Viṣṇu.
In the context of the demigods’ struggle and the gravity of divine service, he underscores that sacrificing one’s life is not ordinary heroism—it becomes possible only through deep devotion and obedience to the Lord’s will.
By offering what is most “dear” to us—time, ego, comfort, and attachments—in sincere service to God and dharma, cultivating practical surrender through daily choices.