Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
स मुनिस्तत् तदा दृष्टवा मत्स्यानां कदनं कृतम् । बभूव कृपयाविष्टो नि:श्वसंश्व॒ पुन: पुन:
sa munis tat tadā dṛṣṭvā matsyānāṁ kadanaṁ kṛtam | babhūva kṛpayāviṣṭo niḥśvasaṁś ca punaḥ punaḥ ||
स मुनिस्तत् तदा दृष्ट्वा मत्स्यानां कदनं कृतम् । बभूव कृपयाविष्टो निःश्वसञ्श्व पुनः पुनः ॥
भीष्म उवाच
Witnessing suffering should awaken compassion; dharma is not only rule-following but also a cultivated sensitivity that recoils from needless violence and responds with mercy.
A sage observes that many fish have been killed (a slaughter/destruction has occurred). Seeing this, he is moved by pity and repeatedly sighs, signaling grief and empathetic distress.