Shloka 9
Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)
निश्चित्य मनसा सर्व गुणदोषबलाबलम् | दग्धुकाम: कुलं सर्व कुशिकानां तपोधन:
niścitya manasā sarva-guṇa-doṣa-balābalam | dagdhukāmaḥ kulaṃ sarvaṃ kuśikānāṃ tapodhanaḥ |
ଭୀଷ୍ମ କହିଲେ—ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଭୃଗୁପୁତ୍ର ଚ୍ୟବନ ଜାଣିଥିଲେ ଯେ କୁଶିକ-ବଂଶର କନ୍ୟା ସହ ବିବାହସମ୍ବନ୍ଧ ହେଲେ ତାଙ୍କ ନିଜ ବଂଶରେ କ୍ଷାତ୍ରତ୍ୱର ମହାଦୋଷ ଉତ୍ପନ୍ନ ହେବ। ତେଣୁ ସେଇ ତପୋଧନ ମୁନିଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ ମନେ-ମନେ ସମସ୍ତ ଗୁଣ-ଦୋଷ ଓ ବଳ-ଅବଳ ବିଚାର କରି ଦୃଢ଼ ନିଶ୍ଚୟ କଲେ ଏବଂ କୁଶିକମାନଙ୍କ ସମଗ୍ର କୁଳକୁ ଭସ୍ମ କରିବା ଇଚ୍ଛାରେ କୁଶିକ ରାଜାଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଗଲେ।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical deliberation (weighing guṇa-doṣa and balābala) before action, while also warning that even a reasoned mind can be overtaken by wrath and the urge for disproportionate retaliation—raising questions about dharma when lineage, social identity, and perceived dishonor are involved.
Chyavana, a sage of the Bhṛgu line, foresees a serious blemish arising in his family due to a marital connection with a Kushika maiden. After mentally assessing pros and cons, he becomes intent on destroying the Kushika clan and approaches King Kushika with that destructive purpose.