Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

भीष्म उवाच हन्त ते कथयिष्यामि पुरावृत्तं महाद्युते । नहुषस्य च संवादं महर्षेश््यवनस्य च

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | hanta te kathayiṣyāmi purāvṛttaṃ mahādyute | nahuṣasya ca saṃvādaṃ maharṣeś cyavanasya ca ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“善哉！噢，大威德者！我将为你讲述一段古老的往事——那便是那胡沙王与大圣者赤耶婆那之间的对话。凭借这则旧闻，眼前之事将依达摩之光而得澄明。”

Word by Word

• [{'term': 'हन्त (hanta)', 'meaning': 'an exclamation meaning “well then,” “come,” “indeed”

• used to begin a narration'}, {'term': 'ते (te)', 'meaning': 'to you (dative singular of tvam)'}, {'term': 'कथयिष्यामि (kathayiṣyāmi)', 'meaning': 'I shall tell / narrate (future, 1st person singular)'}, {'term': 'पुरावृत्तम् (purāvṛttam)', 'meaning': 'an ancient occurrence

• a past event'}, {'term': 'महाद्युते (mahādyute)', 'meaning': 'O greatly radiant/illustrious one

• a respectful address to a king/hero'}, {'term': 'नहुषस्य (nahuṣasya)', 'meaning': 'of Nahusha (genitive singular)'}, {'term': 'संवादम् (saṃvādam)', 'meaning': 'conversation, dialogue

• often implying instructive exchange'}, {'term': 'महर्षेः (maharṣeḥ)', 'meaning': 'of the great seer (genitive singular)'}, {'term': 'च्यवनस्य (cyavanasya)', 'meaning': 'of Chyavana (genitive singular)'}, {'term': 'च (ca)', 'meaning': 'and'}]

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma (Bhīṣma)
• Nahusha (Nahuṣa)
• Sage Chyavana (Maharṣi Cyavana)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse frames ethical instruction through itihāsa: Bhishma signals that dharma is best understood not only through abstract rules but through exemplary narratives and dialogues between rulers and sages, where conduct, restraint, and right judgment are tested.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma begins a new illustrative episode. Addressing the listener as “mahādyute,” he announces that he will recount an ancient account—specifically the instructive dialogue between King Nahusha and the sage Chyavana—setting up the forthcoming moral discussion.