Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
शिबिरौशीनरोडड्रानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम् | ब्राह्मणार्थमुपाहृत्य नाकपृष्ठमितो गत:
śibirauśīnaroḍḍrāni sutaṃ ca priyaṃ aurasam | brāhmaṇārtham upāhṛtya nākapṛṣṭham ito gataḥ ||
उशीनरपुत्र राजा शिबीने एका ब्राह्मणाच्या हितासाठी आपले शरीर आणि आपला प्रिय औरस पुत्रही अर्पण केला; त्या परम दानामुळे तो येथून स्वर्गलोकी गेला.
व्यास उवाच
The verse upholds dāna and dharma as the highest royal virtues: a righteous king places the welfare and honor of a brāhmaṇa (and the demands of dharma) above personal attachment, even to body and offspring; such selfless giving is portrayed as leading to heavenly attainment.
Vyāsa cites the exemplary deed of King Śibi (son of Uśīnara): for a brāhmaṇa’s need he gives away his own body and his beloved legitimate son, and as a result he departs this world and reaches the heavenly realm (nākapṛṣṭha).