Shloka 20
अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission
गृहस्थानां च यद् भोज्यं यच्चापि वनवासिनाम् | सर्वमाहारयामास राजा शापभयात् ततः
bhīṣma uvāca |
gṛhasthānāṃ ca yad bhojyaṃ yac cāpi vanavāsinām |
sarvam āhārayāmāsa rājā śāpabhayāt tataḥ ||
பீஷ்மர் கூறினார்—அப்போது சாபத்தின் அச்சத்தால் அரசன் இல்லறத்தார்க்கு ஏற்ற உணவும், வனவாசிகளுக்குத் தகுந்த உணவும்—அனைத்தையும் வரவழைத்து வைத்தான்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a king’s obligation to provide appropriately for different modes of life (householder and forest-dweller), while also showing how fear of moral/spiritual consequence (a curse) can compel a ruler to act promptly and comprehensively.
Bhishma narrates that the king, anxious about incurring a curse, orders that all kinds of suitable foods be procured—covering both settled household fare and forest-appropriate provisions—and has them presented without omission.