Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 15
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तत्र त्वन्यो वनचर: कश्चिन्मूलफलाशन: । नहुषस्य समीपस्थो गविजातो5भवन्मुनि:
tatra tv anyo vanacaraḥ kaścin mūlaphalāśanaḥ | nahuṣasya samīpastho gavijāto ’bhavan muniḥ ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Doon ay may isa pang naninirahan sa gubat—isang asetang kumakain lamang ng ugat at bunga—na isinilang bilang isang baka at nanirahan malapit kay Haring Nahusha.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores karmic consequence and the mysterious workings of rebirth: even an ascetic (muni) may, due to prior causes, take a non-human birth. It supports Anuśāsana Parva’s ethical emphasis that conduct and past actions shape future conditions, urging vigilance in dharma.
Bhīṣma continues a didactic account involving King Nahuṣa. He introduces another character: a forest-dwelling ascetic who lived on roots and fruits, and who, near Nahuṣa, came to be born as a cow—setting up the surrounding episode’s moral illustration.