Shloka 3
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
पुरा महर्षिक्ष्यवनो भार्गवों भरतर्षभ । उदवासकृतारम्भो बभूव स महाव्रत:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! पूर्वकालकी बात है, भृगुके पुत्र महर्षि च्यवनने महान् व्रतका आश्रय ले जलके भीतर रहना आरम्भ किया
purā maharṣiś cyavano bhārgavo bharatarṣabha | udavāsakṛtārambho babhūva sa mahāvrataḥ ||
Wahai yang terbaik di antara keturunan Bharata, pada masa lampau Maharsi Cyavana dari garis Bhṛgu mengambil sebuah laku agung dan memulai tapa dengan berdiam terbenam di dalam air.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic ideal of self-restraint: a great vow (mahāvrata) and disciplined austerity (tapas) are presented as legitimate means to spiritual and ethical elevation, setting up a model of steadfast commitment.
Bhishma begins an illustrative ancient account: he introduces the sage Cyavana of the Bhṛgu lineage, who undertakes a severe observance by starting to live immersed in water, preparing the ground for a larger moral or dharmic lesson.