Shloka 21

Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच नहुषस्य वच: श्रुत्वा गविजात: प्रतापवान्‌ । उवाच हर्षयन्‌ सर्वानमात्यान्‌ पार्थिवं च तम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca nahuṣasya vacaḥ śrutvā gavijātaḥ pratāpavān | uvāca harṣayan sarvān amātyān pārthivaṃ ca tam ||

Translation

Bhīṣma dit : Ayant entendu les paroles de Nahuṣa, le puissant sage—né du ventre d’une vache—parla d’une manière qui réjouit ce roi et tous ses ministres.

Word by Word

• भीष्मः: Bhishma
• भीष्मः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीष्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• नहुषस्य: of Nahusha
• Type: Noun
• Root: नहुष
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• वचः: speech/words
• वचः: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वचस्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• Type: Verb
• Root: श्रु
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage)

• गविजातः: born from a cow (cow-born)
• गविजातः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गविजात
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रतापवान्: mighty, valorous
• प्रतापवान्: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रतापवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• उवाच: said
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect, 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• हर्षयन्: gladdening, delighting
• हर्षयन्: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष्
• Form: शतृ (present active participle), Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• सर्वान्: all
• सर्वान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अमात्यान्: ministers, counselors
• अमात्यान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमात्य
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• पार्थिवम्: the king
• पार्थिवम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्थिव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Nahusha
• gavijātaḥ (cow-born sage)
• the king (pārthiva)
• ministers (amātya)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical power of timely, well-chosen speech: words that are appropriate and wise can bring clarity and joy to rulers and their advisers, supporting dharmic governance.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma narrates that after Nahusha speaks, a powerful sage described as ‘cow-born’ responds; his reply pleases both the king and the assembled ministers, indicating a favorable turning point in the courtly exchange.