अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
ब्राह्मण उवाच विदेशस्थो विलोकस्थो विना नूनं सुहृज्जनै: । विषयानतुलान् भुड्क्षे तेनासि हरिण: कृश:
brāhmaṇa uvāca | videśastho vilokastho vinā nūnaṃ suhṛjjanaiḥ | viṣayān atulān bhuṅkṣe tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ||
ব্রাহ্মণ বললেন—“হে রাক্ষস! নিশ্চয়ই তুমি সুহৃদদের থেকে বিচ্ছিন্ন হয়ে বিদেশে অপরিচিতদের মধ্যে বাস করছ এবং অতুল বিষয়ভোগে মগ্ন; সেই কারণেই অন্তর্দাহের চিন্তায় তুমি হরিণের মতো কৃশ ও ফ্যাকাশে হয়ে যাচ্ছ।”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
The verse highlights an ethical insight: separation from supportive, virtuous companionship and immersion in alluring sense-pleasures often produces inner unrest. External enjoyment can coexist with (and even mask) anxiety, which shows itself as decline in vitality—hence the image of becoming ‘deer-like’ and thin.
A Brahmin addresses the other party (contextually treated as a rākṣasa in the Gita Press rendering), observing that he lives away from his well-wishers among strangers and indulges in exceptional enjoyments. The Brahmin infers from his emaciated, pale condition that worry or mental strain is consuming him despite outward pleasures.