Shloka 5
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
उशीनरकुमार शिवि अपने प्यारे पुत्रके प्राणोंको ब्राह्मणके लिये निछावर करके यहाँसे स्वर्गलोकमें चले गये ।। प्रतर्दन: काशिपति: प्रदाय तनयं स्वकम् । ब्राह्मणायातुलां कीर्तिमिह चामुत्र चाश्षुते,काशीके राजा प्रतर्दनने अपने प्यारे पुत्रको ब्राह्मणकी सेवामें अर्पित कर दिया, जिसके कारण उन्हें इस लोकमें अनुपम कीर्ति मिली और परलोकमें भी वे अक्षय आनन्दका उपभोग कर रहे हैं
bhīṣma uvāca | uśīnarakumāraḥ śibiḥ prāṇān priyaputrasya brāhmaṇārthe nīcchāvarīkṛtya iha tyaktvā svargalokaṃ gataḥ || pratardanaḥ kāśipatiḥ pradāya tanayaṃ svakaṃ brāhmaṇāya atulāṃ kīrtim iha ca amutra ca aśnute ||
उशीनरकुमारः शिबिर्ब्राह्मणार्थे प्रियस्य सुतस्य प्राणान् निछावर्य इतो दिवं जगाम । प्रतर्दनः काशिपतिः प्रदाय तनयं स्वकं ब्राह्मणाय अतुलां कीर्तिमिह चामुत्र चाक्षयमानन्दमश्नुते ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dāna and self-sacrifice performed for a worthy cause—here framed as service to a Brahmin—constitute high dharma, yielding both worldly renown (kīrti) and otherworldly reward (svarga/akṣaya ānanda).
Bhishma cites two exemplary kings: Śibi, who gives up even his beloved son’s life for a Brahmin and reaches heaven, and Pratardana of Kāśī, who offers his own son into a Brahmin’s service and thereby gains unmatched fame and lasting bliss after death.