Shloka 24
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
कुशवल्मीकभूयिष्ठं बभूव च यथा पुरा । ततः स राजा कुशिक: सभार्यस्तेन कर्मणा
kuśa-valmīka-bhūyiṣṭhaṃ babhūva ca yathā purā | tataḥ sa rājā kuśikaḥ sa-bhāryas tena karmaṇā |
“Seperti dahulu, tempat itu kembali dipenuhi tebal oleh rumput kuśa dan busut anai-anai. Melihat kesan ajaib yang terhasil daripada perbuatannya itu, Raja Kuśika—bersama permaisurinya—terpukul oleh kehairanan yang besar.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a single deed can produce striking, observable results, prompting humility and wonder in even a king; it frames ethical attention to action (karma) and its consequences within a sacred, ritual-tinged setting.
The scene returns to a place that becomes overgrown again with kuśa grass and ant-hills as it once was; King Kuśika and his queen witness this extraordinary outcome caused by the preceding act and are filled with amazement.