Shloka 22
Kāleya-Āśrama-Vināśaḥ — The Kāleyas’ nocturnal raids and the devas’ supplication to Nārāyaṇa
स एवमुकक्त्वा द्विपदां वरिष्ठ: प्राणान् वशी स्वान् सहसोत्ससर्ज | ततः सुरास्ते जगृहुः परासो- रस्थीनि तस्याथ यथोपदेशम्,ऐसा कहकर मनुष्योंमें श्रेष्ठ, जितेन्द्रिय महर्षि दधीचने सहसा अपने प्राणोंका त्याग कर दिया। तब देवताओंने ब्रह्माजीके उपदेशके अनुसार महर्षिके निर्जीव शरीरसे हड्डियाँ ले लीं
sa evam uktvā dvipadāṁ variṣṭhaḥ prāṇān vaśī svān sahasotsasarja | tataḥ surās te jagṛhuḥ parāsoḥ asthīni tasyātha yathopadeśam ||
Tendo assim falado, o melhor entre os homens—Dadhīci, o grande sábio, senhor de si e mestre do próprio sopro vital—renunciou de súbito ao seu alento de vida. Então os deuses, conforme a instrução dada por Brahmā, retiraram os ossos de seu corpo já sem vida, para o fim divino que se impunha.
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic self-offering: a perfected ascetic, through mastery of prāṇa and senses, gives up his life for a higher collective good. It presents renunciation and compassion as ethical strength, where personal loss becomes a means to protect and sustain cosmic order.
Lomāśa recounts how the sage Dadhīci, after speaking, deliberately releases his life-breath. Following Brahmā’s instruction, the gods then take the sage’s bones from his lifeless body for their intended divine use.