Shloka 21
मायासभायां दुर्योधनस्य अवमान-प्रसङ्गः
Duryodhana’s Humiliation in the Hall of Māyā
मा भेस्त्वं देवि धर्मज्ञे न मत्तोडस्ति भयं तव । ददामि कं वरं कि च करवाणि पितृष्वस:,*देवि! धर्मज्ञे! तुम डरो मत। तुम्हें मुझसे कोई भय नहीं है। बुआ! तुम्हीं कहो, मैं तुम्हें कौन-सा वर दूँ? तुम्हारा कौन-सा कार्य सिद्ध कर दूँ?
mā bhaiṣṭvaṃ devi dharmajñe na matto 'sti bhayaṃ tava | dadāmi kaṃ varaṃ kiṃ ca karavāṇi pitṛṣvasaḥ ||
“Xin đừng sợ, hỡi phu nhân am tường dharma. Nàng không có gì phải sợ từ ta. Thưa cô, hãy nói đi—ta sẽ ban cho cô ân huệ nào, và sẽ hoàn thành việc gì cho cô?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A dharmic protector first removes fear and establishes trust: power should be exercised with restraint, reassurance, and readiness to serve rightful requests, especially within bonds of kinship and duty.
Bhishma addresses a woman related to him as his paternal aunt, calms her anxiety by declaring she has nothing to fear from him, and offers to grant a boon or fulfill whatever purpose she seeks.