Shloka 21

Cyavana Explains His Tests; Kuśika Seeks Brāhmaṇya for His Line (च्यवन–कुशिक संवादः)

Devanagari script

नियम किंचिदारप्स्ये युवयोर्यदि रोचते । परिचर्योडस्मि यत्ताभ्यां युवाभ्यामविशड्कया

Transliteration

niyamaṁ kiñcid ārabhsye yuvayor yadi rocate | paricaryā udasmi yat tābhyāṁ yuvābhyām aviśaṅkayā ||

Translation

毗湿摩曰：“若你二人皆以为可，我将立下一项戒行（niyama）。在此戒行之下，你们夫妇二人须以全然的警醒侍奉于我，不得迟疑，亦不得猜疑。”

Word by Word

• नियमम्: a rule/vow
• नियमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नियम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• किञ्चित्: some, a certain
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किञ्चित्

• आरप्स्ये: I shall begin
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-रभ्
• Form: Future, 1st, Singular, Atmanepada

• युवयोः: of you two
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युव
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Genitive, Dual

• यदि: if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यदि

• रोचते: is pleasing (to you)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रुच्
• Form: Present, 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• परिचर्या: service, attendance
• परिचर्या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: परि-चर्या
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• उदस्मि: I am (engaged) / I undertake
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-अस्
• Form: Present, 1st, Singular, Parasmaipada

• यत्: which, that (thing)
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• ताभ्याम्: by those two
• ताभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Feminine/Neuter, Instrumental, Dual

• युवाभ्याम्: by you two
• युवाभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: युव
• Form: Masculine/Feminine, Instrumental, Dual

• अविशङ्कया: without hesitation/doubt
• अविशङ्कया: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविशङ्का
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes disciplined ethical conduct (niyama) expressed through attentive, wholehearted service (paricaryā) performed without hesitation or suspicion—highlighting trust, duty, and steadiness in caregiving and obedience to a prescribed rule.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma proposes to institute a specific observance and seeks the consent of a couple; he then states the condition of that observance: the husband and wife must serve him carefully and without misgiving, indicating a structured test or discipline centered on devoted attendance.