Shloka 18

अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः

Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission

Devanagari script

रसालापूपकांश्रित्रानू मोदकानथ खाण्डवान्‌ | रसान्‌ नानाप्रकारांश्व वन्यं च मुनिभोजनम्‌

Transliteration

bhīṣma uvāca | rasālāpūpakāṃś cāpi trīn modakān atha khāṇḍavān | rasān nānāprakārāṃś ca vanyaṃ ca munibhojanam ||

Translation

毗湿摩说道：“那国王因惧怕诅咒，便命人备办并陈设了种种珍馐：甘甜饮品与糖浆，糕饼点心，各式摩陀迦（甜团），冰糖蜜制之物，以及多种果汁；又备有适合牟尼食用的林野之食——野生根茎与块茎、各类果实——并兼具诸王常享的精致菜肴，以及适合居家者与林栖修行者的饮食。”

Word by Word

• रसालापूपकान्: mango-sweets and fried cakes (pūpakas)
• रसालापूपकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसाल + आपूपक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• श्रितान्: prepared/served (lit. resorted to, made ready)
• श्रितान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रि (क्त)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• मोदकान्: sweet dumplings (modakas)
• मोदकान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मोदक
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• अथ: and then/also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

• खाण्डवान्: sugar-candies (khaṇḍa-type sweets)
• खाण्डवान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: खाण्डव
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• रसान्: juices/nectars
• रसान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रस
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• नाना-प्रकारान्: of various kinds
• नाना-प्रकारान्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नाना + प्रकार
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• वन्यम्: wild/forest-produce
• वन्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• मुनि-भोजनम्: food suitable for sages
• मुनि-भोजनम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनि + भोजन
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• modaka
• pūpaka
• rasālā
• rasa (juices)
• vanya (forest foods)
• muni (sages)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The passage highlights dharmic hospitality: a ruler should provide appropriate, varied, and context-sensitive food—fit for sages as well as for royal guests—showing respect and restraint, especially when moral consequences (such as a curse) are at stake.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes how a king, fearing the repercussions of offending holy persons, urgently procures and presents an extensive spread of foods—sweets, drinks, and forest fare suitable for ascetics—along with items typically enjoyed in royal households.