Shloka 22
Vasiṣṭhasya śokaḥ, Vipāśā–Śatadrū-nāmākaraṇam, Kalmāṣapādasya bhaya-prasaṅgaḥ (Ādi Parva 167)
अयुतानि ददान्यष्टौ गवां याजय मां विभो । द्रोणवैराभिसंतप्तं प्रह्लादयितुमहसि
ayutāni dadāny aṣṭau gavāṁ yājaya māṁ vibho | droṇavairābhisaṁtaptaṁ prahlādayitum arhasi ||
婆罗门说道：“大能者啊，我奉上八万头牛为礼。请你为我主持祭祀。我为与德罗那的仇怨所煎熬；愿你赐我解脱，使我心神复归安宁。”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how ritual and generosity (offering a vast gift of cows) are sought as means to secure religious assistance and personal relief; it also raises an ethical tension: spiritual authority is being invoked to address a worldly feud, reminding readers that dharma must guide both ritual action and responses to enmity.
A brāhmaṇa approaches a powerful figure and offers eighty thousand cows, requesting that the person officiate his sacrifice; he explains that he is distressed due to hostility connected with Droṇa and asks to be soothed and made peaceful.