Shloka 283
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
तथेति चाब्रवीद् ब्रह्मा सर्वतोकपितामह: । राजन! तब उन्होंने यह वर माँगा कि "मैं ब्राह्मण हो जाऊँ।” सम्पूर्ण लोकोंके पितामह ब्रह्माजीने उन्हें “तथास्तु कहकर वह वर दे दिया
tatheti cābravīd brahmā sarvalokapitāmahaḥ | rājan! tadā te varam ayācuḥ—“ahaṃ brāhmaṇo bhaveyam” iti | samastalokānāṃ pitāmaho brahmā “tathāstu” iti uktvā taṃ varaṃ dadau |
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: “Demikianlah,” jawab Brahmā, Pitāmaha bagi segala alam. Wahai Raja, pada ketika itu dia memohon anugerah: “Semoga aku menjadi seorang brāhmaṇa.” Brahmā, leluhur semesta, mengurniakannya sambil berfirman, “Tathāstu—jadilah demikian.”
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the moral weight of intention and aspiration: a boon granted by a cosmic authority can transform one’s social-religious identity, implying that status is tied to sanctioned purpose and dharmic orientation rather than mere birth alone in this narrative context.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates to the king that a petitioner asks Brahmā for the boon of becoming a brāhmaṇa, and Brahmā grants it with the traditional assent, “tathāstu,” thereby effecting the requested transformation.