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 ||
بھیشم نے کہا—وہیں ایک اور جنگل نشین، جو جڑیں اور پھل کھا کر تپسیا کرتا تھا، راجہ نہوش کے قریب ہی ایک مُنی گائے کی صورت میں پیدا ہوا۔
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.