Shloka 7

Cavana’s Tests of Kuśika and the Queen (अध्याय ५३: च्यवन–कुशिक-परिक्षा)

Devanagari script

गंगायमुनयोवेंगं सुभीम॑ं भीमनि:स्वनम्‌ | प्रतिजग्राह शिरसा वातवेगसमं जवे

Transliteration

gaṅgāyamunayor vegaṃ subhīmaṃ bhīmaniḥsvanam | pratijagrāha śirasā vātavegasamaṃ jave ||

Translation

Bhīṣma nói: “Dòng thác của sông Gaṅgā và Yamunā thật ghê rợn tột cùng, gầm vang bằng âm thanh đáng sợ. Dẫu sức lao của nó nhanh và khó chịu đựng như uy lực của gió, vị hiền triết ấy vẫn cúi đầu đón lấy cú va đập trên đỉnh đầu và nhẫn chịu.”

Word by Word

• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: of (the rivers) Ganga and Yamuna
• गङ्गा-यमुनयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा + यमुना
• Form: feminine, genitive, dual

• वेगम्: the rush/force
• वेगम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• सुभीमम्: very terrible
• सुभीमम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभीम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• भीम-निःस्वनम्: having a dreadful roar/sound
• भीम-निःस्वनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम + निःस्वन
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• प्रतिजग्राह: accepted/received (upon himself)
• प्रतिजग्राह: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (गृह्णाति) with प्रति-
• Form: perfect (liṭ), 3rd, singular

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस्
• Form: neuter, instrumental, singular

• वात-वेग-समम्: equal to the speed of wind
• वात-वेग-समम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वात + वेग + सम
• Form: masculine, accusative, singular

• जवे: in speed/velocity
• जवे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: जव
• Form: masculine, locative, singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Gaṅgā
• Yamunā
• vāta (wind)
• muni (sage)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas (austerity) and kṣānti (forbearance): even when confronted with overwhelming, frightening force, the disciplined sage endures without yielding, showing mastery over fear and bodily discomfort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a scene where the combined, roaring current of the Gaṅgā and Yamunā rushes violently; despite its wind-like speed and harsh impact, a muni receives the удар on his head and bears it, demonstrating extraordinary ascetic endurance.