Shloka 17

Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)

Devanagari script

नाहं मिथ्यावचो ब्रूयां स्वैरेष्वपि कुतो5न्यथा । भवतो यदहं ब्रूयां तत्कार्यममविशंकया

Transliteration

nāhaṁ mithyāvaco brūyāṁ svaireṣv api kuto 'nyathā | bhavato yad ahaṁ brūyāṁ tat kāryam aviśaṅkayā ||

Translation

Bhishma sprach: „Ich würde keine falschen Worte sprechen, nicht einmal in Muße oder Scherz; um wie viel weniger jetzt. O König, was immer ich dir sage, das tue ohne Zweifel.“

Word by Word

• {'na': 'not', 'aham': 'I', 'mithyā-vacaḥ': 'false speech

• untruthful words', 'brūyām': 'I would speak (optative

• expressing resolve/possibility)', 'svaiḥ': 'at one’s own pleasure

• freely, casually', 'api': 'even', 'kutaḥ': 'how much less

• from where (idiomatically: ‘how could it be?’)', 'anyathā': 'otherwise

• in another manner (i.e., contrary to truth)', 'bhavataḥ': 'of you

• to you (honorific genitive)', 'yat': 'whatever which', 'ahaṁ brūyām': 'I may say / I tell', 'tat': 'that', 'kāryam': 'to be done

• what should be carried out', 'aviśaṅkayā': 'without suspicion/doubt

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Rājan (the King, i.e., Yudhiṣṭhira)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as a non-negotiable ethical discipline: one who is committed to dharma does not resort to falsehood even in jest, and therefore deserves trust when giving counsel.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma, instructing the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) in the Anuśāsana Parva, asserts his unwavering commitment to truth and urges the king to act without suspicion on the guidance he provides.