Shloka 32
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
व्यत्यासं वृक्षयोश्वापि करवाव शुचिस्मिते । यदि प्रमाणं वचनं मम मातुरनिन्दिते,“पवित्र हास्यवाली मेरी अच्छी बेटी! यदि तुम मेरी बात मानने योग्य समझो तो हमलोग वृक्षोंमें भी अदल-बदल कर लें"
vyatyāsaṃ vṛkṣayoś cāpi karavāva śucismite | yadi pramāṇaṃ vacanaṃ mama mātur anindite ||
ভীষ্ম বললেন—হে পবিত্র-হাস্যময়ী, অনিন্দিতা! এসো, আমরা দুই বৃক্ষের স্থানও অদলবদল করি। যদি তুমি আমার মাতার বাক্যকে প্রমাণ ও গ্রহণযোগ্য মনে করো, তবে তাই হোক।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds pramāṇa—treating a respected elder’s instruction (here, the mother’s word) as an authoritative guide for action—linking ethical conduct with deference to legitimate familial authority.
Bhīṣma addresses a blameless, fair-smiling woman and proposes an exchange ‘even between the two trees,’ framing the proposal as contingent on accepting his mother’s statement as binding authority.