Shloka 13
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ५५: पाण्डव-कौरववैरस्य संक्षेपवृत्तान्तः
Synopsis of the Pāṇḍava–Kaurava Estrangement
खट्वाड्ननाभागदिलीपकल्प ययातिमान्धातृसमप्रभाव । आदित्यतेज:प्रतिमानतेजा भीष्मो यथा राजसि सुत्रतस्त्वम्,राजन! तुम खट्वांग, नाभाग और दिलीपके समान प्रतापी हो। तुम्हारा प्रभाव राजा ययाति और मान्धाताके समान है। तुम अपने तेजसे भगवान् सूर्यके प्रचण्ड तेजकी समानता कर रहे हो। जैसे भीष्मपितामहने उत्तम ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतका पालन किया था, उसी प्रकार तुम भी इस यज्ञमें परम उत्तम व्रतका पालन करते हुए शोभा पा रहे हो
Āstīka uvāca: Khaṭvāṅga-nābhāga-dilīpa-kalpa yayāti-māndhātṛ-sama-prabhāva | āditya-tejaḥ-pratimāna-tejā bhīṣmo yathā rājasi suvratas tvam ||
Disse Āstīka: “Ó rei, és como Khaṭvāṅga, Nābhāga e Dilīpa em bravura. Tua majestade iguala a de Yayāti e Māndhātṛ. Pelo teu fulgor, rivalizas com o brilho feroz do Sol. E assim como Bhīṣma, o grande ancestral, sustentou o excelente voto de brahmacarya, assim também tu resplandeces aqui neste sacrifício, observando um voto supremamente nobre.”
आस्तीक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dharma through the ideal of steadfast vow-keeping: true royal greatness is measured not only by power and lineage but by self-restraint, disciplined observance of vows, and righteous conduct within sacred rites.
Āstīka addresses the king during the sacrificial setting, praising him by comparing his prowess and radiance to famed kings and to the Sun, and by likening his vow-observance to Bhīṣma’s celebrated brahmacarya—an appeal that frames the king as capable of noble restraint.