युधिष्ठिरस्य नगरप्रवेशः — चार्वाकप्रकरणं
Yudhiṣṭhira’s Entry into the City and the Cārvāka Episode
वरेण च्छन्द्यमानश्व ब्रह्मणा च पुन: पुनः । अभयं सर्वभूते भ्यो वरयामास भारत,भरतनन्दन! जब ब्रह्माजीने उससे बारंबार वर माँगनेका अनुरोध किया, तब उसने यही वर माँगा कि मुझे किसी भी प्राणीसे भय न हो
vareṇa cchandyamānaś ca brahmaṇā ca punaḥ punaḥ | abhayaṃ sarvabhūtebhyo varayāmāsa bhārata ||
Didorong berkali-kali oleh Brahmā agar memilih suatu anugerah, dia hanya memohon satu sahaja, wahai Bhārata: agar dia menjadi tanpa takut terhadap semua makhluk—bebas daripada gentar kepada mana-mana makhluk hidup.
वायुदेव उवाच
The verse elevates abhaya (fearlessness) as a worthy boon: inner freedom from fear toward all beings, which supports dharmic steadiness and non-hostile engagement with the world.
Brahmā repeatedly urges the recipient to choose a boon; he selects only one—fearlessness with respect to all creatures—addressed to the listener as ‘O Bhārata’.