Shloka 20
अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission
गृहस्थानां च यद् भोज्यं यच्चापि वनवासिनाम् | सर्वमाहारयामास राजा शापभयात् ततः
bhīṣma uvāca |
gṛhasthānāṃ ca yad bhojyaṃ yac cāpi vanavāsinām |
sarvam āhārayāmāsa rājā śāpabhayāt tataḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Alors, par crainte d’une malédiction, le roi fit apporter et disposer tout ce qui pouvait être mangé—les aliments convenant aux chefs de maison comme ceux qui conviennent aux habitants des forêts.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a king’s obligation to provide appropriately for different modes of life (householder and forest-dweller), while also showing how fear of moral/spiritual consequence (a curse) can compel a ruler to act promptly and comprehensively.
Bhishma narrates that the king, anxious about incurring a curse, orders that all kinds of suitable foods be procured—covering both settled household fare and forest-appropriate provisions—and has them presented without omission.