Shloka 25
Puṣkara-Śapatha Itihāsa (Agastya–Indra Dispute at the Tīrthas) | पुष्कर-शपथ-आख्यानम्
कम्मिंश्रिच्च पुरा यज्ञे शैब्येन शिबिसूनुना । दक्षिणार्थेड्थ ऋत्विग्भ्यो दत्त: पुत्र: पुरा किल,पूर्वकालमें शिबिके पुत्र शैब्यने किसी यज्ञमें दक्षिणाके रूपमें अपना एक पुत्र ही ऋत्विजोंको दे दिया था
karmmiṁśricca purā yajñe śaibyena śibisūnunā | dakṣiṇārthe ’tha ṛtvigbhyo dattaḥ putraḥ purā kila ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Thuở xưa, trong một lễ tế, Śaibya—con của Śibi—đã trao chính đứa con trai của mình cho các tư tế chủ lễ làm lễ vật thù lao (dakṣiṇā).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights uncompromising commitment to dharma as understood through ritual obligation and generosity: dakṣiṇā is not treated as a token gift but as a serious duty, even when it demands painful personal sacrifice.
Bhīṣma cites an old example: during a yajña, Śaibya (Śibi’s son) gave his own son to the priests as dakṣiṇā, presenting it as a remembered instance of extraordinary giving and adherence to vowed conduct.