Shloka 28

Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)

Devanagari script

चरुद्वयमिदं चैव मन्त्रपूतं शुचिस्मिते । त्वंच सा चोपभुज्जीतं ततः पुत्राववाप्स्थथ:,“पवित्र मुसकानवाली देवि! मैंने ये दो मन्त्रपूत चरु तैयार किये हैं। इनमेंसे एकको तुम खा लो और दूसरेको तुम्हारी माता। इससे तुम दोनोंको पुत्र प्राप्त होंगे!

Transliteration

carudvayam idaṃ caiva mantrapūtaṃ śucismite | tvaṃ ca sā copabhujjītaṃ tataḥ putrāv avāpsyatha ||

Translation

தூய புன்னகையுடைய தேவியே! மந்திரத்தால் புனிதப்படுத்தப்பட்ட இந்த இரண்டு சருவை (யாக அன்னம்) நான் தயாரித்துள்ளேன். இதில் ஒன்றை நீ உண்ணு; மற்றொன்றை உன் தாய் உண்ணட்டும். அப்பொழுது நீங்கள் இருவரும் மக்களைப் பெறுவீர்கள்.

Word by Word

चरुद्वयम्this pair of oblations (charu)

इदम्this

चand

एवindeed/just

मन्त्रपूतम्purified by mantras

शुचिस्मितेO one with a pure smile

त्वम्you

चand

साshe (that woman)

चand

उपभुज्जीतम्let (you two) partake/eat

ततःthen/thereupon

पुत्रौtwo sons

अवाप्स्यथःyou two will obtain

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

śucismitā (addressed lady)

caru (ritual oblation/food)

mantra

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes that desired outcomes—here, the begetting of heirs—should be pursued through dharmic, ritually sanctioned means (mantra-purified offerings), highlighting order, restraint, and legitimacy rather than impulsive or unethical action.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma instructs a woman addressed as “śucismitā” that two mantra-consecrated portions of caru have been prepared; she and another woman (referred to as “sā,” understood in context as the mother) should eat them, after which they will each obtain a son.