Shloka 58
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
तत्राश्रमपद्द दिव्यं ददर्श भगवानथ,वहाँ भगवान् अष्टावक्रने एक दिव्य आश्रम देखा। उस आश्रमके चारों ओर नाना प्रकारके सुवर्णमय एवं रत्नभूषित पर्वत शोभा पा रहे थे। वहाँकी मणिमयी भूमिपर कई सुन्दर बावड़ियाँ बनी थीं
tatrāśramapadaṁ divyaṁ dadarśa bhagavān atha |
قال بهيشما: ثم إن الحكيم الجليل أبصر موضعَ أشرمٍ عجيبًا. وحول ذلك الأشرم ارتفعت جبالٌ كثيرة تتلألأ كالذهب ومُحَلّاةٌ بالجواهر؛ وعلى أرضٍ كأنها من المَنيّ (الجواهر) صُنِعت آبارٌ مدرّجةٌ جميلةٌ عديدة. ويُبرز المشهدُ قداسةَ المسكن المشحون بالقوة الروحية وازدهاره، حيث تبدو الطبيعةُ والثروةُ منسجمتين تحت لواء الدارما لا مُنتَزَعَتَين بالعنف.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a dharmic, spiritually potent place is portrayed as naturally auspicious—beauty, order, and even wealth (gold, gems, well-water) appear as offerings to righteousness rather than as objects of conquest. It frames prosperity as legitimate when it supports sanctity and restraint.
In Bhishma’s narration, the sage (identified in the accompanying gloss as Ashtavakra) arrives at a location and beholds a marvelous hermitage-site, described with jewel-like terrain, golden and gem-adorned mountains, and many beautiful stepwells.