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 ।।
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 ||
Sabi ni Bhīṣma: “Si Śibi, ang prinsipe ng angkan ng Uśīnara, ay isinuko maging ang buhay ng minamahal niyang anak alang-alang sa isang brāhmaṇa, at mula rito’y umakyat sa langit. Gayundin, si Pratardana, panginoon ng Kāśī, ay inialay ang sarili niyang mahal na anak upang maglingkod sa isang brāhmaṇa; dahil sa gawaing iyon, nagkamit siya ng di-mapapantayang karangalan sa mundong ito, at sa kabilang-buhay ay tinatamasa ang ligayang di-nagmamaliw.”
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.