Shloka 5
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तत्पश्चात् राजा नहुष बोले--द्विजश्रेष्ठ! बताइये, मैं आपका कौन-सा प्रिय कार्य करूँ? भगवन्! आपकी आज्ञासे कितना ही कठिन कार्य क्यों न हो, मैं सब पूरा करूँगा ।।
cyavana uvāca | śrameṇa mahatā yuktāḥ kaivartā matsyajīvinaḥ | mama mūlyaṃ prayacchaibhyo matsyānāṃ vikrayaiḥ saha ||
そののち王ナフシャは言った。「婆羅門の中の最勝者よ、私があなたのために成すべき喜ばしい務めをお告げください。尊者よ、あなたのご命令とあれば、どれほど困難でもすべて成し遂げましょう。」 チャヴァナは言った。「王よ、このカイヴァルタたち――魚を捕って生計を立てる漁夫たち――は大いなる労苦の末、網で私を引き上げた。ゆえに、この魚の売り上げとともに、私に相当する代価も彼らに支払ってほしい。」
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical kingship: labor deserves fair compensation. Even when an extraordinary person is involved, the ordinary workers who exerted themselves must be paid their due, reinforcing dharma as justice toward those of lower social power.
After King Nahuṣa offers to fulfill Cyavana’s wish, Cyavana points to the fishermen who hauled him up in their net with great effort and instructs the king to pay them—not only for the fish they caught but also an additional ‘price’ for having recovered him.