Shloka 16
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तोषयिष्याम्यहं क्षिप्रं यथा तुष्टो भविष्यति
toṣayiṣyāmy ahaṃ kṣipraṃ yathā tuṣṭo bhaviṣyati | rājan ye munayaḥ kathaṃ santuṣyanti—etad ahaṃ jānāmi | aham etān śīghraṃ santuṣṭān kariṣyāmi | nāhaṃ kadācit hāsyaparīhāse 'pi mṛṣā avadam; kathaṃ punar īdṛśe kāle 'nṛtaṃ vadiṣyāmi? | yat tvāṃ bravīmi tat tvayā niḥśaṅkena kartavyam ||
Bhishma dit : « Je les satisferai promptement, afin qu’ils soient apaisés. Ô roi, je sais comment contenter ces sages ; bientôt je les conduirai à la pleine satisfaction. Je n’ai jamais proféré de mensonge, pas même en plaisanterie—comment, en un moment pareil, pourrais-je dire l’invrai ? Tout ce que je te dirai, accomplis-le sans hésitation. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse upholds satya (truthfulness) as a foundational ethical vow: one who has not lied even in jest should not speak untruth in serious matters. It also stresses trust in righteous counsel—when guidance is grounded in integrity, it should be followed without suspicion.
Bhishma, instructing the king, assures him that he knows the proper way to satisfy certain sages and will do so promptly. To secure the king’s confidence, he cites his lifelong commitment to truth and asks the king to carry out his instructions without doubt.