Shloka 21

Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)

Devanagari script

नियम किंचिदारप्स्ये युवयोर्यदि रोचते । परिचर्योडस्मि यत्ताभ्यां युवाभ्यामविशड्कया

Transliteration

niyamaṁ kiñcid ārabhsye yuvayor yadi rocate | paricaryā udasmi yat tābhyāṁ yuvābhyām aviśaṅkayā ||

Translation

Wika ni Bhīṣma: “Kung ikalulugod ninyong dalawa, magsisimula ako ng isang pagtalima (niyama). Sa ilalim ng tuntuning iyon, kayong dalawa—mag-asawa—ay dapat maglingkod sa akin nang lubos na maingat, walang pag-aatubili at walang pagdududa.”

Word by Word

• नियमम्: a rule/vow
• नियमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: some, a certain
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित्

• आरप्स्ये: I shall begin
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रभ्
• Form: Future, 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

• युवयोः: of you two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युव
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Genitive, Dual

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• रोचते: is pleasing (to you)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• परिचर्या: service, attendance
• परिचर्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि-चर्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उदस्मि: I am (engaged) / I undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-अस्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्: which, that (thing)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• युवाभ्याम्: by you two
• युवाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युव
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Instrumental, Dual

• अविशङ्कया: without hesitation/doubt
• अविशङ्कया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविशङ्का
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes disciplined ethical conduct (niyama) expressed through attentive, wholehearted service (paricaryā) performed without hesitation or suspicion—highlighting trust, duty, and steadiness in caregiving and obedience to a prescribed rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma proposes to institute a specific observance and seeks the consent of a couple; he then states the condition of that observance: the husband and wife must serve him carefully and without misgiving, indicating a structured test or discipline centered on devoted attendance.