Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
कुशवल्मीकभूयिष्ठं बभूव च यथा पुरा । ततः स राजा कुशिक: सभार्यस्तेन कर्मणा
kuśa-valmīka-bhūyiṣṭhaṃ babhūva ca yathā purā | tataḥ sa rājā kuśikaḥ sa-bhāryas tena karmaṇā |
স্থানটি পূর্বের মতোই আবার কুশঘাস ও ঢিবি-পিঁপড়ের বাসা (বাঁবি) দিয়ে ঘন হয়ে উঠল। তখন সেই কর্মের আশ্চর্য প্রভাব দেখে রাজা কুশিক রাণীসহ মহাবিস্ময়ে অভিভূত হলেন।
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights how a single deed can produce striking, observable results, prompting humility and wonder in even a king; it frames ethical attention to action (karma) and its consequences within a sacred, ritual-tinged setting.
The scene returns to a place that becomes overgrown again with kuśa grass and ant-hills as it once was; King Kuśika and his queen witness this extraordinary outcome caused by the preceding act and are filled with amazement.