Shloka 27
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
जालके साथ नदीमेंसे निकाले गये महर्षि च्यवन इत्युक्तास्ते निषादास्तु सुभुशं॑ भयकम्पिता: । सर्वे विवर्णवदना नहुषाय न्यवेदयन्
jālakena sārdhaṁ nadīmadhyān niṣkālitā maharṣiś cyavana iti uktās te niṣādās tu subhṛśaṁ bhayakampitāḥ | sarve vivarṇavadanā nahuṣāya nyavedayan ||
Sinabi ni Bhishma: Nang masabihan ang mga Nishada na ang dakilang rishi na nahila mula sa ilog kasama ng lambat ay si Cyavana, sila’y sinakmal ng matinding takot. Nanginginig nang todo at namumutla ang mga mukha, agad silang nagtungo kay Haring Nahusha at iniulat ang buong pangyayari. Ipinakikita ng tagpong ito ang bigat ng dharma sa pananakit sa walang sala, at ang pangambang sumisiklab kapag napagtantong nagkamali sa isang kagalang-galang na asceta.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical gravity of inadvertently harming a venerable sage: once the Nishadas realize the person they dragged out is Maharshi Cyavana, fear and remorse arise, and they seek proper authority (the king) to report and address the wrongdoing—implying accountability and reverence toward ascetics as a pillar of dharma.
Fishermen (Nishadas) pull someone from the river along with a net; when they learn he is the great sage Cyavana, they panic, tremble, turn pale, and immediately go to King Nahusha to report the incident in full.