Shloka 17

Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)

Devanagari script

ततस्ते सुमहच्चैव बलवच्च सुवर्तितम्‌ । अवतीर्य ततः सर्वे जालं चकृषिरे तदा

Transliteration

tataste sumahaccai va balavacca suvartitam | avatīrya tataḥ sarve jālaṃ cakṛṣire tadā ||

Translation

ビーシュマは言った。「それから彼らは、きわめて大きく強靭で、巧みに編まれたその仕掛けを降ろし、皆が水へと下り、その時ただちに網を手繰り寄せた。」

Word by Word

• ततः: then; from there
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya (ablatival adverb: 'from there/then')

• ते: they
• ते: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• सुमहत्: very great
• सुमहत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुमहत्
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• एव: indeed; just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव
• Form: Avyaya

• बलवत्: strong; powerful
• बलवत्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलवत्
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• सुवर्तितम्: well-made; well-constructed
• सुवर्तितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुवर्तित
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular (past passive participle from √वृत्/√वर्त् with su-)

• अवतीर्य: having descended
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√तॄ (अवतरति)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वान्त/ल्यबन्त), 'having descended'

• ततः: then; thereafter
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः
• Form: Avyaya

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व
• Form: Masculine, nominative, plural

• जालम्: net
• जालम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: जाल
• Form: Neuter, accusative, singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च
• Form: Avyaya

• चकृषिरे: they drew/pulled
• Type: Verb
• Root: √कृष्
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), parasmaipada, 3rd person, plural

• तदा: then; at that time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा
• Form: Avyaya

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• jāla (net)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights coordinated effort and the effective use of well-prepared means: when a tool or plan is properly made and strong, success follows through collective, timely action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a sequence of actions: a large, sturdy, well-made net/contrivance is brought down; then everyone descends and together pulls in the net, suggesting a planned capture or retrieval.