Shloka 5
Cyavana’s Yogic Display and Kuśika’s Recognition of Tapas (च्यवन-योगप्रभावः कुशिकस्य तपःप्रशंसा च)
तत्पश्चात् राजा नहुष बोले--द्विजश्रेष्ठ! बताइये, मैं आपका कौन-सा प्रिय कार्य करूँ? भगवन्! आपकी आज्ञासे कितना ही कठिन कार्य क्यों न हो, मैं सब पूरा करूँगा ।।
cyavana uvāca | śrameṇa mahatā yuktāḥ kaivartā matsyajīvinaḥ | mama mūlyaṃ prayacchaibhyo matsyānāṃ vikrayaiḥ saha ||
Pagkaraan nito, sinabi ni Haring Nahuṣa: “O pinakadakila sa mga brahmana, sabihin mo sa akin kung anong gawa ang makalulugod sa iyo. Kagalang-galang, ayon sa iyong utos, gaano man kahirap, tutuparin ko ang lahat.” Sumagot si Cyavana: “O Hari, ang mga Kaivarta na ito—mga mangingisdang nabubuhay sa pangingisda—ay nagpagal nang labis upang mahila ako palabas sa kanilang lambat. Kaya bayaran mo rin sa kanila ang nararapat na halaga para sa akin, kasama ng kikitain sa pagbebenta ng mga isdang ito.”
च्यवन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical kingship: labor deserves fair compensation. Even when an extraordinary person is involved, the ordinary workers who exerted themselves must be paid their due, reinforcing dharma as justice toward those of lower social power.
After King Nahuṣa offers to fulfill Cyavana’s wish, Cyavana points to the fishermen who hauled him up in their net with great effort and instructs the king to pay them—not only for the fish they caught but also an additional ‘price’ for having recovered him.