Shloka 14
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
एकत: श्यामकर्णानां हयानां चन्द्रवर्चसाम् । सहसतरं वातवेगानां भिक्षे त्वां देवसत्तम,“देवशिरोमणे! मैं आपसे चन्द्रमाके समान कान्तिमान् तथा वायुके समान वेगवान् एक हजार ऐसे घोड़ोंकी भिक्षा माँगता हूँ जिनका एक ओरका कान श्याम रंगका हो”
ekataḥ śyāmakarṇānāṃ hayānāṃ candravarcasām | sahasrataraṃ vātavegānāṃ bhikṣe tvāṃ devasattama ||
“O best among the gods, I beg of you a thousand horses—moon-bright in radiance and swift as the wind—each marked by having one ear of dark (śyāma) color.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the dharmic ideal that what is sought or given should be of high quality and purposeful—excellence (radiance, speed, distinctive marks) aligns gifts and boons with righteous aims rather than mere accumulation.
Bhishma addresses a supreme divine figure and asks for a boon: one thousand exceptional horses, described by their moon-like brilliance, wind-like speed, and the distinctive mark of having one dark-colored ear.