Shloka 34
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
ततो मे त्वच्चरी भाव: पादपे च सुमध्यमे । कथं विशिष्टो भ्राता मे भवेदित्येव चिन्तय
tato me tvaccarī bhāvaḥ pādape ca sumadhyame | kathaṁ viśiṣṭo bhrātā me bhaved ity eva cintaya ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ainsi, ô dame à la taille gracieuse, mon affection s’est attachée au caru qui t’est destiné, et à l’arbre lui-même. Ne médite que ceci : “Comment mon frère pourra-t-il devenir éminent, pourvu de qualités supérieures ?”»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
To direct one’s concern toward the cultivation of excellence and virtue in one’s family—especially ensuring that a brother (or close kin) becomes ‘viśiṣṭa’, i.e., distinguished by superior qualities—rather than being distracted by secondary matters.
Bhishma addresses a woman (called ‘sumadhyamā’) and explains that his attachment has become fixed on the offering (caru) appointed for her and on a tree, and he urges her to keep contemplating a single aim: how his brother might become endowed with outstanding qualities.