Shloka 52
अध्याय २८१ — दानधर्मः, न्यायागतधनम्, ऋणत्रय-परिशोधनं च
Dāna ethics, lawful wealth, and settling obligations
आप ऊचु: एवं भवतु लोकेश यथा वदसि न: प्रभो । मोक्ष समयतो<स्माकं संचिन्तयितुमरहसि,जलदेवताने कहा--लोकेश्वर! प्रभो! आप जैसा कहते हैं, ऐसा ही होगा; परंतु हम इस ब्रह्महत्यासे किस समय छुटकारा पायेंगे, इसका भी विचार कर लें
āpa ūcuḥ: evaṁ bhavatu lokeśa yathā vadasi naḥ prabho | mokṣaḥ samayato ’smākaṁ sañcintayitum arhasi ||
आप ऊचुः—एवं भवतु लोकेश यथा वदसि नः प्रभो। मोक्षसमयतोऽस्माकं संचिन्तयितुमर्हसि ब्रह्महत्याभारतः॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when divine beings submit to a higher command, dharma requires that the consequences of grave wrongdoing (like brahmahatyā) be addressed through a defined path and timing of expiation; moral order includes both obedience and accountability.
The water-deities respond to the Lord of the worlds, agreeing to carry out what he has instructed, but they ask him to determine when they will be freed from the taint of brahmahatyā that has come upon them in the course of events.