Shloka 37
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
अपनी पत्नी सत्यवतीको गर्भवती अवस्थामें देखकर भृगुश्रेष्ठ महर्षि ऋचीकका मन खिन्न हो गया ।। व्यत्यासेनोपयुक्तस्ते चरुव्यक्त भविष्यति । व्यत्यास: पादपे चापि सुव्यक्तं ते कृत: शुभे,उन्होंने कहा--'शुभे! जान पड़ता है तुमने बदलकर चरुका उपयोग किया है। इसी तरह तुमलोगोंने वृक्षोंके आलिंगनमें भी उलट-फेर कर दिया है--ऐसा स्पष्ट प्रतीत हो रहा है
bhīṣma uvāca | svāṁ patnīṁ satyavatīṁ garbhiṇīm avalokya bhṛguśreṣṭhasya maharṣeḥ ṛcīkasya manaḥ khinnaṁ babhūva | vyatyāsena upayuktaḥ te caruḥ vyaktaḥ bhaviṣyati | vyatyāsaḥ pādape cāpi suvyaktaṁ te kṛtaḥ śubhe |
व्यत्यासेनोपयुक्तस्ते चरुः सुव्यक्त भविष्यति । व्यत्यासः पादपे चापि सुव्यक्तं ते कृतः शुभे ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that dharmic acts, especially rites involving vows and offerings, depend on correct intention and correct procedure; a reversal (vyatyāsa) in what is meant for whom can invert results and create lasting consequences for family and lineage.
Ṛcīka sees Satyavatī pregnant and realizes that the caru meant for a particular purpose has been used in an interchanged way; he also infers a similar interchange connected with the prescribed act involving trees, and he voices his distress and certainty that the reversal has occurred.