Shloka 16
Āraṇyaka-parva Adhyāya 199: Dharmavyādha on Svakarma, Vidhi, and the Limits of Ahiṃsā
अथैकेन यातव्यं स्यात् कोडवतरेत् पुनर्नारद आह शिबिर्यायादहमवतरेयमत्र कि कारणमित्यब्रवीतू । असावहं शिबिना समो नास्मि यतो ब्राह्मण: कश्चिदेनमब्रवीत्,“यदि आपके साथ हममेंसे एकमात्र शिबिको ही स्वर्गलोकमें जाना हो तो वहाँसे पहले कौन उतरेगा?' ऐसा प्रश्न होनेपर नारदजीने फिर कहा--'शिबि जायँगे और मैं उतरूँगा। “इसमें क्या कारण है?” यह पूछे जानेपर देवर्षि नारदने कहा--“मैं राजा शिबिके समान नहीं हूँ, क्योंकि एक दिन एक ब्राह्मणने शिबिसे कहा--'शिबे! मैं भोजन करना चाहता हूँ।' राजाने पूछा--“आपके लिये क्या रसोई बनायी जाय, आज्ञा कीजिये”
athaikena yātavyaṃ syāt, ko ’vataren punaḥ? nārada āha—śibir yāyād, aham avatariyām atra. kiṃ kāraṇam iti abravīt. asāv ahaṃ śibinā samo nāsmi. yato brāhmaṇaḥ kaścid enam abravīt—“śibe! bubhukṣito ’smi.” rājā uvāca—“kiṃ te pākaṃ kariṣyāmi? ājñāpaya.”
Então foi proposto: “Apenas um deve prosseguir; quem descerá de novo?” Nārada respondeu: “Que Śibi vá, e eu descerei aqui.” Quando lhe perguntaram: “Por que razão?”, ele disse: “Não sou igual ao rei Śibi. Pois certa vez um brâmane disse a Śibi: ‘Ó Śibi, estou com fome.’ E o rei respondeu: ‘Que alimento devo mandar preparar para ti? Ordena-me.’”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True greatness in dharma is shown through humility and service: Nārada acknowledges Śibi’s superior merit, and Śibi’s immediate concern for a hungry brāhmaṇa exemplifies royal duty as compassionate hospitality.
A question arises about who should proceed (to a higher realm) and who should descend again. Nārada says Śibi should go while he himself will descend, explaining that he is not equal to Śibi, and begins citing Śibi’s exemplary conduct toward a brāhmaṇa who asked for food.