Shloka 3
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
पुरा महर्षिक्ष्यवनो भार्गवों भरतर्षभ । उदवासकृतारम्भो बभूव स महाव्रत:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! पूर्वकालकी बात है, भृगुके पुत्र महर्षि च्यवनने महान् व्रतका आश्रय ले जलके भीतर रहना आरम्भ किया
purā maharṣiś cyavano bhārgavo bharatarṣabha | udavāsakṛtārambho babhūva sa mahāvrataḥ ||
Bhishma dijo: «En tiempos antiguos, oh toro entre los Bharatas, el gran sabio Cyavana, del linaje de Bhṛgu, asumió un voto poderoso y comenzó la observancia de vivir sumergido en el agua».
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic ideal of self-restraint: a great vow (mahāvrata) and disciplined austerity (tapas) are presented as legitimate means to spiritual and ethical elevation, setting up a model of steadfast commitment.
Bhishma begins an illustrative ancient account: he introduces the sage Cyavana of the Bhṛgu lineage, who undertakes a severe observance by starting to live immersed in water, preparing the ground for a larger moral or dharmic lesson.