Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 43
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तत्पश्चात् गौसे उत्पन्न महर्षि और भृगुनन्दन च्यवन दोनोंने राजा नहुषसे इच्छानुसार वर माँगनेके लिये कहा ।। ततो राजा महावीर्यों नहुष: पृथिवीपति: । परमित्यब्रवीत् प्रीतस्तदा भरतसत्तम
tataḥ rājā mahāvīryo nahuṣaḥ pṛthivīpatiḥ | param ity abravīt prītas tadā bharatasattama ||
وبعد ذلك قال كلاهما—المهرشي المولود من البقرة وتشيافانا ابنُ بهريغو—للملك نهوشا أن يطلب نعمةً على هواه. فحينئذٍ أجاب الملك نهوشا، عظيمَ البأس وسيّدَ الأرض، وقد سرّ قلبه: «إنها نعمةٌ عليا!» يا خيرَ آلِ بهاراتا.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the dharmic posture of a ruler: when spiritual authorities offer favor, the king responds with gratitude and reverence, recognizing the ‘supreme’ value of righteous, divinely sanctioned gifts rather than treating them as mere instruments of power.
Bhīṣma recounts that King Nahuṣa, pleased, responds affirmatively—“supreme indeed”—in the context of sages offering him the opportunity to choose a boon, marking his acceptance and satisfaction at the auspicious turn of events.