Shloka 5
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तत्पश्चात् राजा नहुष बोले--द्विजश्रेष्ठ! बताइये, मैं आपका कौन-सा प्रिय कार्य करूँ? भगवन्! आपकी आज्ञासे कितना ही कठिन कार्य क्यों न हो, मैं सब पूरा करूँगा ।।
cyavana uvāca | śrameṇa mahatā yuktāḥ kaivartā matsyajīvinaḥ | mama mūlyaṃ prayacchaibhyo matsyānāṃ vikrayaiḥ saha ||
Ensuite, le roi Nahuṣa dit : «Ô le plus éminent des brahmanes, dis-moi quelle œuvre agréable je dois accomplir pour toi. Vénérable seigneur, selon ton ordre, si difficile que soit la tâche, je l’accomplirai tout entière.» Cyavana répondit : «Ô roi, ces Kaivartas — des pêcheurs qui vivent de la prise du poisson — m’ont, au prix d’un grand effort, tiré hors de leur filet. Aussi, verse-leur le prix qui m’est dû, en même temps que le produit de la vente de ces poissons.»
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical kingship: labor deserves fair compensation. Even when an extraordinary person is involved, the ordinary workers who exerted themselves must be paid their due, reinforcing dharma as justice toward those of lower social power.
After King Nahuṣa offers to fulfill Cyavana’s wish, Cyavana points to the fishermen who hauled him up in their net with great effort and instructs the king to pay them—not only for the fish they caught but also an additional ‘price’ for having recovered him.