Shloka 42
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
काम यथादद्विहितं विधात्रा पृष्टेन वाच्यं तु मया यथावत् | तपो हि नान्यच्चानशनान्मतं मे नमोस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद
kāmaṃ yathādad dvihitaṃ vidhātrā pṛṣṭena vācyaṃ tu mayā yathāvat | tapo hi nānyac cānaśanān mataṃ me namo 'stu te deva-vara prasīda ||
Bhagīratha sprach: „O Herr der Götter, ich habe das Fastengelübde ordnungsgemäß gehalten, wie es der Schöpfer verordnet hat, gemäß meinem eigenen Entschluss. Da du mich befragt hast, ist es recht, dass ich alles genau so ausspreche, wie es ist; darum habe ich dir alles gesagt. Nach meinem Verständnis gibt es keine Askese, die größer wäre als das Fasten. Ich verneige mich vor dir, o Bester der Götter — sei mir gnädig.“
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates disciplined fasting (anaśana) as a supreme form of tapas and links ascetic practice with dharma: when questioned by a higher authority, one should speak truthfully and completely (yathāvat), without concealment.
Bhagīratha addresses a divine being, explaining that he has properly completed the prescribed fast. Because the deity has asked, he reports his actions fully and then offers reverence, requesting the god’s favor.