Shloka 26

Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)

Devanagari script

तमपृच्छत्‌ ततो राजा कुशिक: प्रणतस्तदा । किमन्नजातमिष्टं ते किमुपस्थापयाम्यहम्‌

Transliteration

tam apṛcchat tato rājā kuśikaḥ praṇatas tadā | kim annajātam iṣṭaṃ te kim upasthāpayāmy aham ||

Translation

Darauf fragte König Kuśika, in Ehrfurcht verneigt: „O großer Weiser, welche Speise ist dir lieb? Welche Vorräte soll ich herbeibringen und zu deinem Dienst bereitstellen?“

Word by Word

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अपृच्छत्: asked
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रच्छ्
• Form: Imperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ततः: then/from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः

• राजा: the king
• राजा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• कुशिकः: Kushika
• कुशिकः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुशिक
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रणतः: bowed down, having saluted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-नम्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• तदा: at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• अन्नजातम्: kind/type of food
• अन्नजातम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्नजात
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• इष्टम्: desired, pleasing
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इष्ट
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त) used adjectivally

• ते: for you/to you
• ते: Sampradana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युष्मद्
• Form: Dative, Singular, 2nd

• किम्: what
• किम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: किम्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उपस्थापयामि: shall I present/bring
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-स्था (caus. उपस्थापय-)
• Form: Present (Laṭ), 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular, 1st

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• King Kushika
• Maharshi (unnamed sage)
• food/provisions

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A king upholds dharma by honoring a worthy guest—especially a sage—with humility, inquiry into their needs, and prompt service; reverence is shown not only by bowing but by attentive provision.

What is happening in the narrative?

After approaching the sage, King Kuśika prostrates and respectfully asks what food the sage prefers and what items he should bring to serve him.