Shloka 20
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
नदीशैवलदिग्धाडुं हरिश्मश्रुजटाधरम् । लग्नै: शड्खनखेैगत्रि क्रोडैश्वित्रिरिवार्पितम्
nadī-śaivala-digdhāṅgaṃ hari-śmaśru-jaṭā-dharam | lagnaiḥ śaṅkha-nakhair gātre kroḍa-citrair ivārpitam ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Seluruh tubuhnya berlumur lendir alga sungai. Kumis, janggut, dan rambut gimbalnya menghijau; dan anggota-anggota tubuhnya, tergores kuku kerang dan makhluk air lainnya, tampak seakan berhias corak beraneka—laksana bulu-bulu ganjil seekor babi hutan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how sustained austerity and endurance leave tangible marks on the body; it implicitly values steadfastness (tapas) and self-discipline, presenting external hardship as a sign of inner resolve rather than mere suffering.
Bhishma is describing a figure whose body has been long in or near a river: algae has coated him, his facial hair and matted locks have turned green, and scratches or impressions from shells and aquatic creatures have patterned his limbs, making him look as if covered with boar-like mottled bristles.