Shloka 2

अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः

Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission

Devanagari script

युधिष्ठिरने पूछा--पितामह! च्यवन मुनिके अन्तर्धान हो जानेपर राजा कुशिक और उनकी महान्‌ सौभाग्यशालिनी पत्नीने क्या किया? यह मुझे बताइये ।।

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca |

adṛṣṭvā sa mahīpālas tam ṛṣiṃ saha bhāryayā |

pariśrānto nivavṛte vrīḍito naṣṭacetanaḥ ||

Translation

Bhishma đáp: Nhà vua cùng hoàng hậu tìm kiếm vị hiền giả ấy mà không sao thấy được, bèn trở về trong mệt lả. Bị nỗi hổ thẹn và tự trách phủ chụp, ông như người mất thần trí—tâm trí chao đảo vì không thể diện kiến vị khổ hạnh đã khuất dạng khỏi tầm mắt.

Word by Word

• अदृष्ट्वा: not having seen
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश्
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), non-finite

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महीपालः: the king (protector of the earth)
• महीपालः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीपाल
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तम्: that (him)
• तम्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• ऋषिम्: sage
• ऋषिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• सह: together with
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह

• भार्यया: with (his) wife
• भार्यया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

• परिश्रान्तः: exhausted
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परिश्रान्त
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• निववृते: returned / turned back
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृत्
• Form: लिट् (perfect), Ātmanepada, Third, Singular

• व्रीडितः: ashamed / embarrassed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्रीडित
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• नष्टचेतनः: as if bereft of consciousness
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नष्टचेतन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Yudhishthira
• King Kushika
• Kushika's wife
• Sage Chyavana

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights the ethical contrast between royal power and ascetic authority: when a king cannot reach a sage (who may withdraw from sight by spiritual power), the proper response is not coercion but humility. The king’s shame and mental collapse underscore the moral weight of failing in reverence, patience, or right conduct toward a rishi.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Chyavana disappears (becomes unperceivable), King Kushika searches for him with his wife but cannot find him. Exhausted, the king turns back, feeling deep embarrassment and becoming mentally stunned, setting up the next part of the episode about why the sage withdrew and what consequences or lessons follow.