Shloka 19
Āśrama-dharma and Brahmacarya: Śuka’s Inquiry on Karma and Tyāga (शुक-प्रश्नः कर्मत्यागविवेकश्च)
शिबिरौशीनरोडड्रानि सुतं च प्रियमौरसम् | ब्राह्मणार्थमुपाहृत्य नाकपृष्ठमितो गत:
śibirauśīnaroḍḍrāni sutaṃ ca priyaṃ aurasam | brāhmaṇārtham upāhṛtya nākapṛṣṭham ito gataḥ ||
Wika ni Vyāsa: Si Haring Śibi, anak ni Uśīnara, ay naghandog ng sarili niyang katawan—maging ang minamahal niyang lehitimong anak—para sa kapakanan ng isang Brāhmaṇa. Sa pamamagitan ng sukdulang handog na iyon, na inialay sa paglilingkod sa dharma, nilisan niya ang daigdig na ito at nakamit ang kaharian ng langit.
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds dāna and dharma as the highest royal virtues: a righteous king places the welfare and honor of a brāhmaṇa (and the demands of dharma) above personal attachment, even to body and offspring; such selfless giving is portrayed as leading to heavenly attainment.
Vyāsa cites the exemplary deed of King Śibi (son of Uśīnara): for a brāhmaṇa’s need he gives away his own body and his beloved legitimate son, and as a result he departs this world and reaches the heavenly realm (nākapṛṣṭha).