Shloka 16
Jaratkāru-nirukti and Parīkṣit’s forest encounter (जরত्कारुनिरुक्तिः—परिक्षिद्वनप्रसङ्गः)
दास्यामि हि वर तेड्द्य प्रीतिर्मे परमा त्वयि । दिष्ट्या बुद्धिश्न ते धर्मे निविष्टा पन्नगोत्तम । भूयो भूयश्ष ते बुद्धिर्धर्मे भवतु सुस्थिरा,“तुम्हारे ऊपर मेरा बड़ा प्रेम है; अतः आज मैं तुम्हें अवश्य वर दूँगा। पन्नगोत्तम! यह सौभाग्यकी बात है कि तुम्हारी बुद्धि धर्ममें दृढ़तापूर्वक लगी हुई है। मैं भी आशीर्वाद देता हूँ कि तुम्हारी बुद्धि उत्तरोत्तर धर्ममें स्थिर रहे”
śeṣa uvāca | dāsyāmi hi vara te 'dya prītir me paramā tvayi | diṣṭyā buddhiś ca te dharme niviṣṭā pannagottama | bhūyo bhūyaś ca te buddhir dharme bhavatu susthirā ||
“Hoje, certamente te concederei uma dádiva, pois meu afeto por ti é profundo. Afortunado és, ó o melhor entre as serpentes, por teres o entendimento firmemente estabelecido no dharma. E ainda te abençoo: que o teu discernimento se torne cada vez mais estável na retidão.”
शेष उवाच
Educational Q&A
Dharma is not merely known but must be steadily inhabited by one’s buddhi (discernment). The verse praises a mind anchored in righteousness and frames ethical stability as a blessing that can grow progressively (“bhūyo bhūyaḥ”).
Śeṣa, pleased by the recipient’s steadfast commitment to dharma, expresses deep affection and grants a boon, adding an explicit benediction that the recipient’s moral discernment will become increasingly firm.