Shloka 17
Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)
यदि राज्यं यदि धनं यदि गा: संशितव्रत । यज्ञदानानि च तथा ब्रहि सर्व ददामि ते
yadi rājyaṃ yadi dhanaṃ yadi gāḥ saṃśitavrata | yajñadānāni ca tathā brūhi sarvaṃ dadāmi te ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai resi yang teguh dan keras dalam laku nazar, jika yang tuan kehendaki ialah kerajaan, harta, lembu, atau juga pemberian untuk tujuan yajña—katakanlah. Aku akan menyerahkan semuanya. Istana ini, negeri ini, dan takhta kedaulatan yang ditegakkan menurut dharma—semuanya milik tuan. Tuanlah raja—peliharalah bumi ini. Adapun aku, akan tetap menjadi hamba yang sentiasa taat pada perintah tuan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic generosity and humility: a ruler (or elder statesman) should be ready to relinquish even supreme possessions—kingdom, wealth, cattle, and ritual gifts—when confronted with a higher moral or spiritual claim, and should place righteous authority above personal attachment.
Bhīṣma addresses an austere sage and offers him whatever he might desire—political power, material wealth, cattle, or sacrificial donations—going so far as to say the throne and governance are the sage’s, while Bhīṣma will remain obedient, underscoring deference to spiritual merit and dharmic legitimacy.