Shloka 38
Viśvāmitra-janma: Ṛcīka–Satyavatī–Gādhi and the Charu Exchange (विश्वामित्र-जन्म: ऋचीक–सत्यवती–गाधि वृत्तान्तः)
मया हि विश्व यद्ब्रह्मा त्वच्चरौ संनिवेशितम् । क्षत्रवीर्य च सकल॑ चरौ तस्या निवेशितम्
mayā hi viśva yad brahmā tvac-carau saṃniveśitam | kṣatra-vīryaṃ ca sakalaṃ carau tasyā niveśitam ||
Sinabi ni Bhīṣma: “Ako mismo ang naglagay ng ganap na lakas-espirituwal ng mga Brāhmaṇa sa iyong caru; at sa caru ng iyong ina ay itinatag ko ang buong tapang at lakas na nararapat sa isang Kshatriya. Kaya ang mga katangiang nilayon ay sadyang inihalo sa pamamagitan ng ritwal.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights intentional cultivation of qualities through dharmic means: spiritual authority (brahma-tejas) and martial-kingly vigor (kṣatra-vīrya) are not random endowments but are to be rightly placed, balanced, and used responsibly for righteous governance and protection.
Bhishma explains that, through a ritual act involving caru (a consecrated oblation), he deliberately infused one recipient’s portion with Brahmanic spiritual potency and another woman’s portion with complete Kshatriya valor, indicating a purposeful bestowal of distinct capacities.