Shloka 23
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
स मुनिस्तत् तदा दृष्टवा मत्स्यानां कदनं कृतम् । बभूव कृपयाविष्टो नि:श्वसंश्व॒ पुन: पुन:
sa munis tat tadā dṛṣṭvā matsyānāṁ kadanaṁ kṛtam | babhūva kṛpayāviṣṭo niḥśvasaṁś ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
Bhishma dit : «Lorsque le sage vit que les poissons avaient été abattus et anéantis, il fut envahi de compassion et, maintes fois, poussa de profonds soupirs. La scène souligne une sensibilité éthique face au tort inutile et l’éveil de la miséricorde devant la souffrance.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Witnessing suffering should awaken compassion; dharma is not only rule-following but also a cultivated sensitivity that recoils from needless violence and responds with mercy.
A sage observes that many fish have been killed (a slaughter/destruction has occurred). Seeing this, he is moved by pity and repeatedly sighs, signaling grief and empathetic distress.