Shloka 18
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
भरतश्रेष्ठ! वहाँ यक्षोंके देखते-देखते महातेजस्वी कुण्डधारने देवताओंके आगे धरतीपर माथा टेक दिया ।॥। ततस्तु देववचनान्मणि भद्रो महामना: । उवाच पतितं भूमौ कुण्डधार किमिष्यते,तब महामनस्वी मणिभद्रने देवताओंके कहनेसे पृथ्वीपर पड़े हुए उस मेघसे पूछा, “कुण्डधार! तुम क्या चाहते हो?”
bharataśreṣṭha! tatra yakṣāṇāṃ paśyatāṃ paśyatāṃ mahātejāḥ kuṇḍadhāraḥ devatānām agre pṛthivyāṃ mastakaṃ nyapatayat. tataḥ tu devavacanāt maṇibhadro mahāmanāḥ uvāca patitaṃ bhūmau kuṇḍadhāra kim iṣyate.
ହେ ଭରତଶ୍ରେଷ୍ଠ! ଯକ୍ଷମାନଙ୍କ ଦୃଷ୍ଟି ସାମ୍ନାରେ ମହାତେଜସ୍ବୀ କୁଣ୍ଡଧାର ଦେବମାନଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ ଭୂମିରେ ମସ୍ତକ ରଖି ପ୍ରଣାମ କଲେ। ତାପରେ ଦେବବଚନରେ ପ୍ରେରିତ ମହାମନା ମଣିଭଦ୍ର, ଭୂମିରେ ପଡ଼ିଥିବା ତାଙ୍କୁ ପଚାରିଲେ—“କୁଣ୍ଡଧାର! ତୁମେ କ’ଣ ଚାହୁଁଛ?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic etiquette: approaching higher powers with humility and restraint. Prostration signifies surrender of ego and readiness to state one’s request within the bounds of righteousness, under the guidance of divine authority.
Kuṇḍadhāra, described as radiant, bows down before the gods in the presence of the Yakṣas. Prompted by the gods, Maṇibhadra questions the prostrate Kuṇḍadhāra about what boon or request he seeks.