Shloka 22
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
मात्रे तत् सर्वमाचख्यौ सा कन्या राजसत्तम | अथ तामब्रवीन्माता सुतां किंचिदवाड्मुखी,नृपश्रेष्ठ तब उस राजकन्याने अपनी मातासे मुनिकी कही हुई सब बातें बतायीं। वह सुनकर उसकी माताने संकोचसे सिर नीचे करके पुत्रीसे कहा--
mātre tat sarvam ācakhyau sā kanyā rājasattama | atha tām abravīn mātā sutāṁ kiñcid avāṅmukhī ||
Bhīṣma said: O best of kings, that maiden related to her mother everything that had been spoken. Hearing it, the mother—somewhat abashed and with her face lowered—then spoke to her daughter.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical restraint and modesty in familial counsel: truthful reporting of important speech is followed by a mother’s hesitant, downcast response, reflecting social decorum and the gravity of the matter being discussed.
The princess reports everything she has heard to her mother. After listening, the mother—embarrassed or hesitant—lowers her face and begins to speak to her daughter, marking a transition to the mother’s counsel or decision.