Shloka 18
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
भरतश्रेष्ठ! वहाँ यक्षोंके देखते-देखते महातेजस्वी कुण्डधारने देवताओंके आगे धरतीपर माथा टेक दिया ।॥। ततस्तु देववचनान्मणि भद्रो महामना: । उवाच पतितं भूमौ कुण्डधार किमिष्यते
bharataśreṣṭha! tatra yakṣāṇāṃ paśyatāṃ paśyatāṃ mahātejāḥ kuṇḍadhāraḥ devatānām agre pṛthivyāṃ mastakaṃ nyapatayat. tataḥ tu devavacanāt maṇibhadro mahāmanāḥ uvāca patitaṃ bhūmau kuṇḍadhāra kim iṣyate.
O best of the Bharatas! Before the very eyes of the Yakṣas, the radiant Kuṇḍadhāra bowed down, placing his head upon the earth in front of the gods. Then, at the gods’ prompting, the great-souled Maṇibhadra addressed him as he lay prostrate on the ground: “Kuṇḍadhāra, what do you seek?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: approaching higher powers with humility and restraint. Prostration signifies surrender of ego and readiness to state one’s request within the bounds of righteousness, under the guidance of divine authority.
Kuṇḍadhāra, described as radiant, bows down before the gods in the presence of the Yakṣas. Prompted by the gods, Maṇibhadra questions the prostrate Kuṇḍadhāra about what boon or request he seeks.