Shloka 3
Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)
पुरा महर्षिक्ष्यवनो भार्गवों भरतर्षभ । उदवासकृतारम्भो बभूव स महाव्रत:,भरतश्रेष्ठ! पूर्वकालकी बात है, भृगुके पुत्र महर्षि च्यवनने महान् व्रतका आश्रय ले जलके भीतर रहना आरम्भ किया
purā maharṣiś cyavano bhārgavo bharatarṣabha | udavāsakṛtārambho babhūva sa mahāvrataḥ ||
Bhishma nói: “Thuở xưa, hỡi bậc tráng sĩ của dòng Bharata, đại hiền triết Cyavana thuộc dòng Bhṛgu đã thọ một đại thệ nguyện và bắt đầu phép tu sống chìm trong nước.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds the dharmic ideal of self-restraint: a great vow (mahāvrata) and disciplined austerity (tapas) are presented as legitimate means to spiritual and ethical elevation, setting up a model of steadfast commitment.
Bhishma begins an illustrative ancient account: he introduces the sage Cyavana of the Bhṛgu lineage, who undertakes a severe observance by starting to live immersed in water, preparing the ground for a larger moral or dharmic lesson.