Shloka 22
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
अयुतानि ददान्यष्टौ गवां याजय मां विभो । द्रोणवैराभिसंतप्तं प्रह्लादयितुमहसि,“भगवन्! मैं आपको अस्सी हजार गौएँ भेंट करता हूँ। आप मेरा यज्ञ करा दीजिये। मैं द्रोणके वैरसे संतप्त हो रहा हूँ। आप मुझे प्रसन्नता प्रदान करें
ayutāni dadāny aṣṭau gavāṁ yājaya māṁ vibho | droṇavairābhisaṁtaptaṁ prahlādayitum arhasi ||
Disse o brāhmana: “Ó poderoso, ofereço-te oitenta mil vacas. Rogo-te que oficies o meu sacrifício. Sou atormentado pela inimizade com Droṇa; deves conceder-me alívio e devolver-me a paz do espírito.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual and generosity (offering a vast gift of cows) are sought as means to secure religious assistance and personal relief; it also raises an ethical tension: spiritual authority is being invoked to address a worldly feud, reminding readers that dharma must guide both ritual action and responses to enmity.
A brāhmaṇa approaches a powerful figure and offers eighty thousand cows, requesting that the person officiate his sacrifice; he explains that he is distressed due to hostility connected with Droṇa and asks to be soothed and made peaceful.