Shloka 563
ब्राह्मणपूजा-राजधर्मः | Royal Duty of Honoring Learned Brahmins
यथागतं महाराज मुक््त्वा विषमिवोरग: । भृगुवंशी महर्षे! मैंने इन राजासे अपनी जातिका त्याग करवा दिया।” महाराज! तदनन्तर महर्षिकी आज्ञा लेकर राजा प्रतर्दन जैसे साँप अपने विषको त्याग देता है
yathāgataṃ mahārāja muktvā viṣam ivoragaḥ | bhṛguvaṃśī maharṣe! mayā ineṃ rājāse āpanī jātikā tyāga karvā diyā | mahārāja! tad-anantaraṃ maharṣer ājñāṃ labdhvā rājā pratardanaḥ yathā sarpaḥ sva-viṣaṃ tyajati, tathā krodhaṃ tyaktvā yathāgataṃ eva pratyagāt |
भीष्म उवाच— यथागतं महाराज, मुक्त्वा क्रोधं विषमिवोरगः। भृगुवंशी महर्षे, मया राज्ञः प्रतर्दनस्य जात्यभिमानः परित्याजितः। ततः स महर्षेरनुज्ञां लब्ध्वा यथागतं प्रत्यावर्तत।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that true refinement is shown by abandoning anger and pride in birth; under a sage’s guidance, one should return to composure, shedding wrath as a snake sheds its poison.
Bhishma narrates that after receiving the sage’s permission, King Pratardana departs peacefully, having given up anger; Bhishma also remarks that he made the king renounce attachment to his caste/lineage identity.