Shloka 17
Brāhmaṇa-mahattva and Atithi-Dharma
Brahmagītā: Praise of Brāhmaṇas and norms of honor
भीष्म उवाच श्र॒त्वा श्येनस्य तद् वाक््यं राजर्षिविस्मयं गत: । सम्भाव्य चैनं तद्वाक्यं तदर्थी प्रत्यमभाषत
bhīṣma uvāca śrutvā śyenasy tad vākyam rājarṣi-vismayaṁ gataḥ | sambhāvya cainaṁ tad-vākyaṁ tad-arthī pratyamabhāṣata ||
Bhishma berkata: Mendengar kata-kata helang itu, resi diraja itu amat terperanjat. Setelah memuji dan menghormati ujarannya, dan dengan tekad untuk memastikan apa yang diminta—perlindungan bagi merpati—baginda pun menjawab sewajarnya, membuka jalan kepada penyelesaian menurut dharma yang menuntut keseimbangan antara belas kasihan dan keadilan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A ruler committed to dharma must respond thoughtfully even to an opponent’s reasonable claim: he should acknowledge valid arguments, yet remain steadfast in protecting the vulnerable, seeking a just solution rather than acting from impulse.
The hawk presents its claim; the king-sage, amazed by the hawk’s reasoning, praises it and then replies with the intention of safeguarding the dove—moving the dialogue toward a test of royal righteousness and ethical balance.