Shloka 1
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
ऑपनआक्रात बछ। सं: चतु:पञ्चाशत्तमो5 ध्याय: महर्षि च्यवनके प्रभावसे राजा कुशिक और उनकी रानीको अनेक आश्चर्यमय दृश्योंका दर्शन एवं च्यवन मुनिका प्रसन्न होकर राजाको वर माँगनेके लिये कहना भीष्म उवाच ततः स राजा रात्र्यन्ते प्रतिबुद्धो महामना: । कृतपूर्वालह्निकः प्रायात् सभार्यस्तद् वन॑ प्रति
bhīṣma uvāca | tataḥ sa rājā rātry-ante pratibuddho mahāmanāḥ | kṛta-pūrvāhṇikaḥ prāyāt sa-bhāryas tad vanaṃ prati ||
Bhishma sprach: Als die Nacht zu Ende ging, erwachte jener großgesinnte König. Nachdem er die üblichen Morgenriten vollzogen hatte, brach er—zusammen mit seiner Königin—zu jener Waldklause auf.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic steadiness: a ruler should begin action only after completing prescribed daily duties (morning rites), showing self-governance and respect for sacred order even when extraordinary matters are at hand.
At dawn, King Kushika wakes, performs his morning observances, and then proceeds with his queen toward the forest hermitage, continuing the episode connected with the sage and the wondrous events in that setting.