Shloka 18
कण्वोपदेशः—नश्वरबलविवेकः तथा मातलिगुणकेश्याः आख्यानारम्भः
Kaṇva’s Counsel on Impermanent Power; Opening of the Mātali–Guṇakeśī Narrative
तौ दृष्टवा क्षुत्पिपासाभ्यां कृशी धमनिसंततौ । शीतवातातपैश्चैव कर्शितौ पुरुषोत्तमौ
tau dṛṣṭvā kṣutpipāsābhyāṃ kṛśī dhamanisaṃtatau | śītavātātapaiś caiva karśitau puruṣottamau ||
সেই দুই পুরুষোত্তমকে দেখে (রাজা দেখলেন) ক্ষুধা ও তৃষ্ণায় তারা কৃশ হয়ে গেছে; দেহজুড়ে শিরা-উপশিরা স্পষ্ট, আর শীত, বাতাস ও প্রখর রৌদ্র সহ্য করতে করতে তারা আরও ক্ষয়প্রাপ্ত হয়েছে।
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical and spiritual value of endurance: even the noblest persons may be reduced by hunger, thirst, and harsh weather, yet their steadfast bearing of hardship becomes a marker of discipline and resolve—often a prelude to testing dharma under pressure.
Vaiśampāyana describes two eminent men seen in a severely weakened state: hunger and thirst have made them thin, their veins are visibly prominent, and continual exposure to cold, wind, and heat has further worn them down.