Shloka 9
Ādi-parva Adhyāya 97: Satyavatī’s appeal and Bhīṣma’s reaffirmation of satya
प्रतीपं रोचयामास पितरं भूरितेजसम् । महाभिषं तु त॑ दृष्टवा नदी धैर्याच्च्युतं नृपम्,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! तब राजा महाभिषने अन्य बहुत-से तपस्वी राजाओंका चिन्तन करके महातेजस्वी राजा प्रतीपको ही अपना पिता बनानेके योग्य चुना --उन््हींको पसंद किया। महानदी गंगा राजा महाभिषको धैर्य खोते देख मन-ही-मन उन्हींका चिन्तन करती हुई लौटी। मार्गसे जाती हुई गंगाने वसुदेवताओंको देखा। उनका शरीर स्वर्गसे नीचे गिर रहा था। वे मोहाच्छन्न एवं मलिन दिखायी दे रहे थे। उन्हें इस रूपमें देखकर नदियोंमें श्रेष्ठ गंगाने पूछा--
pratīpaṃ rocayāmāsa pitaraṃ bhūritejasam | mahābhiṣaṃ tu taṃ dṛṣṭvā nadī dhairyāccyutaṃ nṛpam |
Vaiśampāyana disse: O rei Mahābhiṣa, após refletir sobre muitos reis-sábios ascetas, escolheu somente o rei Pratīpa, de grande fulgor, como digno de ser seu pai. Mas quando o rio Gaṅgā viu Mahābhiṣa cair da firmeza do autocontrole, recuou e voltou atrás, guardando-o no pensamento.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even highly placed rulers are accountable to dharma: a momentary loss of restraint (dhairya/self-possession) can lead to moral and cosmic consequences, while true worthiness for lineage is linked with tapas and tejas guided by ethical steadiness.
Mahābhiṣa selects the illustrious King Pratīpa to be his father in a future birth; meanwhile Gaṅgā, seeing Mahābhiṣa’s lapse from steadfastness, turns back—setting up the subsequent events involving Gaṅgā and the descent of beings connected with the Kuru lineage.