Shloka 57
वैशम्पायन उवाच नाकामयत त॑ दातुं वरं दाशाय शान्तनु: । शरीरजेन तीव्रेण दह्ममानोडपि भारत,वैशम्पायनजी कहते हैं--जनमेजय! राजा शान्तनु प्रचण्ड कामाग्निसे जल रहे थे, तो भी उनके मनमें निषादको वह वर देनेकी इच्छा नहीं हुई
vaiśampāyana uvāca
nākāmayata taṁ dātuṁ varaṁ dāśāya śāntanuḥ |
śarīrajena tīvreṇa dahyamāno 'pi bhārata ||
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Hỡi Bhārata (Janamejaya), dẫu vua Śāntanu bị thiêu đốt bởi ngọn lửa dục vọng dữ dội sinh từ thân xác, ngài vẫn không muốn ban ân huệ ấy cho người đánh cá.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even when desire burns intensely, a ruler is expected to weigh promises and actions against dharma and broader obligations; inner passion does not automatically justify granting requests that may compromise duty or lineage responsibilities.
Vaiśampāyana tells Janamejaya that King Śāntanu, though tormented by strong desire, hesitates to grant a demanded boon to the fisherman—setting up the tension that will lead to major decisions affecting the Kuru dynasty.