Shloka 22
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
देवशर्मोवाच यज्ञकारो गमिष्यामि रुचिं चेमां सुरेश्वर:
devaśarmovāca yajñakāro gamiṣyāmi ruciṃ cemāṃ sureśvaraḥ
தேவசர்மன் கூறினான்—தேவேசுவரா! நான் யாகத்திற்கு ரித்விக் (யாககர்த்தா) ஆகச் செல்வேன்; என் இந்த விருப்பமும் அந்தக் கடமையிலேயே நிலைத்துள்ளது.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds steadfastness in one’s appointed duty (svadharma): the speaker declares a firm resolve to proceed to the sacrifice in the proper role, implying ethical commitment to ritual responsibility and integrity of intention.
Within Bhīṣma’s discourse, a sub-narrative is being quoted: Devaśarman speaks, addressing the ‘Lord of the gods’ (Indra), stating that he will go to the sacrificial rite as the officiant and affirming his settled intention to do so.