Shloka 20
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
सहस्रचित्यो: राजर्षि: प्राणानिष्टान् महायशा: । ब्राह्मणार्थे परित्यज्य गतो लोकाननुच्तमान्
sahasracityo rājārṣiḥ prāṇān iṣṭān mahāyaśāḥ | brāhmaṇārthe parityajya gato lokān anuttamān ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்— பெரும் புகழுடைய ராஜரிஷி ஸஹஸ்ரசித்யன், ஒரு பிராமணனின் நலனுக்காகத் தன் உயிரையே—even அன்பாகக் கருதிய உயிரையும்—துறந்து, ஒப்பற்ற உலகங்களை அடைந்தான்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That the highest dharmic merit can lie in self-sacrifice for the protection and welfare of a brāhmaṇa and the sacred order; renouncing even one’s life for such a cause is portrayed as leading to unsurpassed spiritual attainment.
Bhīṣma cites the example of the famed royal sage Sahasracitya, who gave up his cherished life for a brāhmaṇa’s sake, and as a result is said to have attained the highest worlds—an illustrative precedent within Bhīṣma’s dharma-instruction.