Shloka 9
अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission
तौ तथेति प्रतिश्रुत्य क्षुधितौ श्रमकर्शितौ । शतपाकेन तैलेन महार्हेणोपतस्थतु:
tau tatheti pratiśrutya kṣudhitau śramakarśitau | śatapākena tailena mahārheṇopatasthatuḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : Tous deux acquiescèrent en disant : « Qu’il en soit ainsi. » Et bien qu’affamés et brisés de fatigue, ils se mirent au service, apportant une huile très précieuse, cuite cent fois.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed as steadfast service and hospitality: even when afflicted by hunger and exhaustion, one should uphold one’s pledged duty and honor guests or those deserving care, offering the best one can.
After agreeing (“so be it”), two individuals—despite being hungry and fatigued—approach to serve, bringing an especially precious offering: oil refined by being cooked a hundred times, indicating both devotion and the value placed on proper service.