Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
उक्तस्तैरस्मि गच्छ त्वं ब्रह्मतोकमिति प्रभो । प्रीतेनोक्तसहस््रेण ब्राह्मणानामहं प्रभो । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्तो मा भूत् ते5त्र विचारणा
uktas tair asmi gaccha tvaṁ brahmalokam iti prabho | prītenokta-sahasreṇa brāhmaṇānām ahaṁ prabho | imaṁ lokam anuprāpto mā bhūt te 'tra vicāraṇā ||
ভগীৰথে ক’লে—প্ৰভো! তেওঁলোকে মোক কৈছিল, “তুমি ব্ৰহ্মলোকলৈ যোৱা।” হে স্বামী! সন্তুষ্ট সেই সহস্ৰ ব্ৰাহ্মণৰ কৃপাময় আদেশ আৰু আশীৰ্বাদৰ বলতেই মই এই লোক প্ৰাপ্ত হৈছোঁ; সেয়ে এই বিষয়ে আপোনাৰ মনত কোনো সন্দেহ নাথাকক।
भगीरथ उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical authority of the righteous: when brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis are genuinely pleased by one’s conduct and rites, their blessing and instruction are treated as a trustworthy warrant for spiritual attainment. It also models humility—Bhagīratha asks the listener not to harbor suspicion, grounding his claim in the approval of the virtuous.
Bhagīratha explains that, after completing a certain undertaking, thousands of brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis arrived, were satisfied with him, and joyfully instructed him to go to Brahmaloka. He states that by their pleased blessing he has attained his present state/world, and he requests that no doubt be entertained about it.