Shloka 21
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
तं जालेनोद्धृतं दृष्टवा ते तदा वेदपारगम् । सर्वे प्राजजलयो दाशा: शिरोभि: प्रापतन् भुवि,वेदोंके पारंगत उन विद्वान महर्षिको जालके साथ खिंचा देख सभी मल्लाह हाथ जोड़ मस्तक झुका पृथ्वीपर पड़ गये
taṁ jālenoddhṛtaṁ dṛṣṭvā te tadā vedapāragam | sarve prāñjalayo dāśāḥ śirobhiḥ prāpatan bhuvi ||
Bhīṣma said: “When they saw that Veda-knowing sage, drawn up in a net, all the fishermen at once folded their hands in reverence and, bowing their heads, fell down upon the earth.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in an unexpected or seemingly degrading situation (a sage being hauled up in a net), true spiritual and scriptural attainment evokes spontaneous reverence. The verse highlights dharmic conduct: recognizing merit (vidyā, tapas) and responding with humility (añjali, prostration).
A group of fishermen see a great Veda-knowing sage who has been pulled up with a net. Realizing his stature, they immediately join their hands and prostrate on the ground, showing respect and seeking to act rightly toward him.