Shloka 9
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
अन्तर्जलेषु सुष्वाप काष्ठ भूतो महामुनि: । ततश्रोर्ध्वस्थितो धीमानभवद् भरतर्षभ,भरतश्रेष्ठ! वे बुद्धिमान् महामुनि कभी पानीमें काठकी भाँति सो जाते और कभी उसके ऊपर खड़े हो जाते थे
antarjaleṣu suṣvāpa kāṣṭha-bhūto mahāmuniḥ | tataś cordhva-sthito dhīmān abhavad bharatarṣabha ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Ce grand sage dormait au sein des eaux, tel un morceau de bois ; puis, ô taureau des Bharata, l’homme avisé se relevait et se tenait debout au-dessus de l’eau.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents extreme steadiness and restraint as marks of a perfected ascetic: the sage can remain inert like a log in water and then rise above it, symbolizing mastery over bodily impulses and unwavering discipline (tapas) in pursuit of dharma and spiritual attainment.
Bhishma describes the conduct of a great sage: at times he lies asleep within the water, motionless like wood, and at other times he stands above the water. The description functions as an illustrative example within Bhishma’s instruction to Yudhishthira.