Shloka 36
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
दृष्टवा गर्भगनुप्राप्तां भार्या स च महानृषि: । उवाच तां सत्यवतीं दुर्मना भृगुसत्तम:
dṛṣṭvā garbhaganūprāptāṃ bhāryāṃ sa ca mahānṛṣiḥ | uvāca tāṃ satyavatīṃ durmanā bhṛgusattamaḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: Melihat isterinya telah mengandung, resi agung itu—yang terunggul dalam kalangan Bhṛgu—berkata kepada Satyavatī dengan hati yang gundah. Saat itu membingkai ketegangan moral: tanda kelahiran yang bakal tiba menjadi kesempatan bagi perbualan yang berat dan sarat kewajipan, ketika perasaan peribadi dan tuntutan dharma hampir bertembung.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how major ethical decisions often arise at pivotal life-events (like pregnancy and continuation of lineage). It signals that dharma is not merely abstract: it must be faced amid strong emotions, where a wise person must speak and act with responsibility despite inner distress.
Bhīṣma narrates that a great Bhṛgu sage sees his wife is pregnant and, feeling troubled, addresses Satyavatī. The verse functions as a narrative hinge: the sage’s disturbed state foreshadows a serious discussion or decision connected with the pregnancy and its implications.