Shloka 35

अध्याय ५६ — च्यवन–कुशिकसंवादः

Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Lineage, Conflict, and Transmission

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु भगवान्‌ प्रत्युवाचाथ तं॑ नृपम्‌ इत:ः प्रभूति यातव्यं पदक पदक शनै:

Transliteration

evam uktas tu bhagavān pratyuvācātha taṁ nṛpam | itaḥ prabhṛti yātavyaṁ padaṁ padaṁ śanaiḥ |

Translation

毗湿摩说道：国王如此发问后，那位可敬的圣仙答道：“自此以后，须极其缓慢地前行，一步一步。务必使我不受丝毫不适。你们二人当依我之意而动，驾车使我得最大安逸，并令众人皆得目睹。”

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम्

• उक्तः: having been spoken to / addressed
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वच्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular, क्त (past passive participle)

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• भगवान्: the venerable one (the sage)
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• प्रत्युवाच: replied
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अथ: then
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ

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

• नृपम्: the king
• नृपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• the king (nṛpa)
• Bhagavān (the sage, identified in the prose as Cyavana)
• chariot (ratha)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse emphasizes dharmic conduct through carefulness and compassion: one should act with restraint and attentiveness so as not to cause harm or discomfort, especially when serving elders or sages, and should follow rightful instruction with humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

After the king speaks, the revered sage responds with practical instructions: from that point the king (and his companion/attendants) must move very slowly, step by step, and guide the chariot in a manner that ensures the sage’s comfort and avoids causing him pain.