Shloka 8
Chatra–Upānah Dāna: Origin Narrative
Jamadagni–Reṇukā–Sūrya Saṃvāda
केचिद् बिसान्यखनंस्तत्र राज- न्नन्ये मृणालान्यखनंस्तत्र विप्रा: । अथापश्यन् पुष्कर ते ट्वियन्तं हृदादगस्त्येन समुद्धृतं तत्
kecid bisāny akhanan tatra rājan anye mṛṇālāny akhanan tatra viprāḥ | athāpaśyan puṣkara te tv iyantaṃ hṛdād agastyena samuddhṛtaṃ tat, rājan |
Bhishma dit : «Ô roi, certains se mirent à déterrer des tiges de lotus, tandis que d’autres brahmanes arrachaient les fibres tendres du lotus. Alors tous virent que la grande quantité de lotus qu’Agastya avait déjà tirée de l’étang s’évanouit soudain. Cette disparition inattendue fut vue de tous.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the sudden reversal of what seems securely obtained—suggesting that outcomes are not merely a matter of effort but can be governed by higher forces (dharma, tapas, or divine will). It invites humility and restraint in acquisition, even of seemingly harmless resources.
People begin harvesting lotus parts from a pond—some digging lotus-stalks, others extracting lotus-fibres. At that moment, the large heap of lotus already pulled out by the sage Agastya from the lake suddenly disappears, and everyone witnesses the event.