Shloka 99
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
वालखिल्यास्तप:सिद्धा मुनयः सूर्यमण्डले । उज्छे तिष्ठन्ति धर्मज्ञा: शाकुनीं वृत्तिमास्थिता:
vālakhilyās tapaḥsiddhā munayaḥ sūryamaṇḍale | ucche tiṣṭhanti dharmajñāḥ śākunīṁ vṛttim āsthitāḥ ||
قال مهيشفارا: «إن حكماءَ فالاكيليّا (Vālakhilya)، وقد اكتملوا بالتقشّف، يقيمون في فَلَكِ الشمس. وهم عارفون بالدَّرما، يعيشون على طريقة “الالتقاط”؛ كحال الطير، يقتاتون بالتقاط الحبوب المتناثرة، لا يأخذون إلا ما وُجِد، ولا يؤذون أحدًا.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an austere, non-exploitative livelihood: the dharma-knowing sages sustain themselves by ‘gleaning’ like birds—taking only what is freely available, minimizing harm, desire, and dependence.
Maheśvara describes the Vālakhilya sages as tapas-perfected beings who reside in the Sun’s sphere and maintain themselves through uccha-vṛtti (gleaning), emphasizing their disciplined, dharmic way of life.