Shloka 25
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
कम्मिंश्रिच्च पुरा यज्ञे शैब्येन शिबिसूनुना । दक्षिणार्थेड्थ ऋत्विग्भ्यो दत्त: पुत्र: पुरा किल,पूर्वकालमें शिबिके पुत्र शैब्यने किसी यज्ञमें दक्षिणाके रूपमें अपना एक पुत्र ही ऋत्विजोंको दे दिया था
karmmiṁśricca purā yajñe śaibyena śibisūnunā | dakṣiṇārthe ’tha ṛtvigbhyo dattaḥ putraḥ purā kila ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Pada zaman purba, dalam suatu upacara korban, Śaibya—putera Śibi—telah menyerahkan anak lelakinya sendiri kepada para pendeta pelaksana (ṛtvij) sebagai dakṣiṇā, iaitu upah suci korban.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights uncompromising commitment to dharma as understood through ritual obligation and generosity: dakṣiṇā is not treated as a token gift but as a serious duty, even when it demands painful personal sacrifice.
Bhīṣma cites an old example: during a yajña, Śaibya (Śibi’s son) gave his own son to the priests as dakṣiṇā, presenting it as a remembered instance of extraordinary giving and adherence to vowed conduct.