Shloka 18

अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः

Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission

Devanagari script

रसालापूपकांश्रित्रानू मोदकानथ खाण्डवान्‌ | रसान्‌ नानाप्रकारांश्व वन्यं च मुनिभोजनम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | rasālāpūpakāṃś cāpi trīn modakān atha khāṇḍavān | rasān nānāprakārāṃś ca vanyaṃ ca munibhojanam ||

Translation

بھیشم نے کہا—لعنت کے خوف سے بادشاہ نے طرح طرح کی لذیذ چیزیں منگوا کر سامنے رکھ دیں: میٹھے مشروبات اور شربت، پُوے اور پکوان، گوناگوں مودک، کھانڈ کی مٹھائیاں اور ہر قسم کے رس؛ نیز رشیوں کے لائق جنگلی خوراک—جنگل کے کَند، جڑیں اور طرح طرح کے پھل—اور بادشاہوں کے شایانِ شان بے شمار کھانے، اور گھر گرہستھوں اور بن باسیوں کے مناسب غذا بھی۔

Word by Word

• रसालापूपकान्: mango-sweets and fried cakes (pūpakas)
• रसालापूपकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसाल + आपूपक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• श्रितान्: prepared/served (lit. resorted to, made ready)
• श्रितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रि (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मोदकान्: sweet dumplings (modakas)
• मोदकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अथ: and then/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• खाण्डवान्: sugar-candies (khaṇḍa-type sweets)
• खाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रसान्: juices/nectars
• रसान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नाना-प्रकारान्: of various kinds
• नाना-प्रकारान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + प्रकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वन्यम्: wild/forest-produce
• वन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मुनि-भोजनम्: food suitable for sages
• मुनि-भोजनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + भोजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• modaka
• pūpaka
• rasālā
• rasa (juices)
• vanya (forest foods)
• muni (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights dharmic hospitality: a ruler should provide appropriate, varied, and context-sensitive food—fit for sages as well as for royal guests—showing respect and restraint, especially when moral consequences (such as a curse) are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes how a king, fearing the repercussions of offending holy persons, urgently procures and presents an extensive spread of foods—sweets, drinks, and forest fare suitable for ascetics—along with items typically enjoyed in royal households.