Shloka 7

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

Devanagari script

गंगायमुनयोवेंगं सुभीम॑ं भीमनि:स्वनम्‌ | प्रतिजग्राह शिरसा वातवेगसमं जवे

Transliteration

gaṅgāyamunayor vegaṃ subhīmaṃ bhīmaniḥsvanam | pratijagrāha śirasā vātavegasamaṃ jave ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ଗଙ୍ଗା ଓ ଯମୁନାର ପ୍ରବାହ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଭୟଙ୍କର ଥିଲା; ଭୀଷଣ ନାଦରେ ଗର୍ଜନ କରୁଥିଲା। ପବନବେଗ ସମ ତୀବ୍ର ଓ ଦୁଃସହ ହେଲେ ମଧ୍ୟ ସେ ମୁନି ତାହାକୁ ନିଜ ମସ୍ତକରେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରି ସହିଲେ।

Word by Word

• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: of (the rivers) Ganga and Yamuna
• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + यमुना
• Form: feminine, genitive, dual

• वेगम्: the rush/force
• वेगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• सुभीमम्: very terrible
• सुभीमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभीम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• भीम-निःस्वनम्: having a dreadful roar/sound
• भीम-निःस्वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + निःस्वन
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रतिजग्राह: accepted/received (upon himself)
• प्रतिजग्राह: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (गृह्णाति) with प्रति-
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd, singular

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• वात-वेग-समम्: equal to the speed of wind
• वात-वेग-समम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात + वेग + सम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• जवे: in speed/velocity
• जवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Gaṅgā
• Yamunā
• vāta (wind)
• muni (sage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and kṣānti (forbearance): even when confronted with overwhelming, frightening force, the disciplined sage endures without yielding, showing mastery over fear and bodily discomfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a scene where the combined, roaring current of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rushes violently; despite its wind-like speed and harsh impact, a muni receives the удар on his head and bears it, demonstrating extraordinary ascetic endurance.