Mahabharata 1.94.9 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 94, Shloka 9
Śāṃtanu’s Ideal Rule; Devavrata’s Return; The Satyavatī Marriage Condition and Bhīṣma’s Vow (आदि पर्व, अध्याय ९४)
ययातिरुवाच यथा त्वमिन्द्रप्रतिमप्रभाव- स्ते चाप्यनन्ता नरदेव लोका: । तथाद्य लोके न रमे<न्यदत्ते तस्माच्छिबे नाभिनन्दामि देयम्
yayātir uvāca yathā tvam indrapratimaprabhāvas te cāpy anantā naradeva lokāḥ | tathādya loke na rame ’nyadatte tasmāc chibe nābhinandāmi deyam ||
ययातिरुवाच—यथा त्वमिन्द्रप्रतिमप्रभावस् ते चाप्यनन्ता नरदेव लोकाः। तथाद्य लोके न रमेऽन्यदत्ते तस्माच्छिबे नाभिनन्दामि देयम्॥
प्रतर्दन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even an exalted reward loses its value if it is merely received from another; true fulfillment is tied to what one has earned through one’s own conduct and merit, not to borrowed or transferred enjoyment.
Yayāti addresses King Śibi, acknowledging Śibi’s Indra-like power and the vastness of the worlds he offers, but refuses to rejoice in or accept a realm that comes as another’s gift, emphasizing the principle of self-earned attainment.
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