Shloka 13
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
भक्तं प्रगृह्म मूर्ध्ना वै बाहुभ्यां संशितव्रत: । स्थित: स्थाणुरिवाभ्याशे निश्चेष्टो मार्ताशन:
bhaktaṃ pragṛhya mūrdhnā vai bāhubhyāṃ saṃśitavrataḥ | sthitaḥ sthāṇur ivābhyāśe niśceṣṭo mārutāśanaḥ ||
কঠোৰ ব্ৰতনিষ্ঠ বিশ্বামিত্ৰে দুয়ো হাতে ভোজনপাত্ৰ তুলি মূৰত ধাৰণ কৰিলে আৰু আশ্ৰমৰ ওচৰত গছৰ গুঁড়িৰ দৰে নিশ্চল থিয় হৈ ৰ’ল; সেই অৱস্থাত তেওঁৰ আহাৰ আছিল কেৱল বায়ু।
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas and vow-discipline: true restraint is shown not merely by lacking food, but by mastering desire even when food is available, placing dharma and self-control above bodily impulse.
Nārada describes Viśvāmitra receiving food, lifting it reverently to his head, and then standing near the hermitage utterly motionless like a stump, living only on air—an image of extreme ascetic resolve.