Shloka 22
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
परिखेदपरित्रासाज्जालस्यथाकर्षणेन च । मत्स्या बभूवुर्व्यापन्ना: स्थलसंस्पर्शनेन च
parikhedaparitrāsāj jālasya athākarṣaṇena ca | matsyā babhūvur vyāpannāḥ sthala-saṁsparśanena ca ||
भीष्म उवाच—परिखेदपरित्रासाज्जालस्याथाकर्षणेन च । मत्स्या बभूवुर्व्यापन्नाः स्थलसंस्पर्शनेन च ॥ तं मत्स्यसंहारं दृष्ट्वा मुनिः करुणया समाविष्टो भूत्वा पुनः पुनर्दीर्घं निःश्वासान् मुमोच ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even unintended or routine acts (like catching fish) can cause intense suffering; the ethically awakened person responds with compassion and remorse, recognizing the weight of harm (hiṁsā) and valuing mercy (dayā).
Fish are trapped and dragged in a net; the strain, fear, and contact with dry land kill many of them. A sage witnesses this destruction and, moved by pity, repeatedly sighs in grief.