Shloka 5
Adhyāya 142: Cyavana, the Devas’ Arrogance, and Vāyu’s Counsel on Protecting Brāhmaṇas
उशीनरकुमार शिवि अपने प्यारे पुत्रके प्राणोंको ब्राह्मणके लिये निछावर करके यहाँसे स्वर्गलोकमें चले गये ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | uśīnarakumāraḥ śibiḥ prāṇān priyaputrasya brāhmaṇārthe nīcchāvarīkṛtya iha tyaktvā svargalokaṃ gataḥ || pratardanaḥ kāśipatiḥ pradāya tanayaṃ svakaṃ brāhmaṇāya atulāṃ kīrtim iha ca amutra ca aśnute ||
毗湿摩说道：“乌西那罗族的王子尸毗，为了一位婆罗门，竟舍弃了爱子之命，由此离世而得天界。同样，迦尸之主普罗塔尔达那，将自己心爱的儿子奉献去侍奉婆罗门；凭此行为，他在此世获得无比声名，在彼世享受不坏之乐。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
That dāna and self-sacrifice performed for a worthy cause—here framed as service to a Brahmin—constitute high dharma, yielding both worldly renown (kīrti) and otherworldly reward (svarga/akṣaya ānanda).
Bhishma cites two exemplary kings: Śibi, who gives up even his beloved son’s life for a Brahmin and reaches heaven, and Pratardana of Kāśī, who offers his own son into a Brahmin’s service and thereby gains unmatched fame and lasting bliss after death.