Shloka 55
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
निरीक्षेत निराहार ऊर्ध्वबाहुः कृताज्जलि: । तपसा महता युक्त उपवासफलं लभेत्
nirīkṣeta nirāhāra ūrdhvabāhuḥ kṛtāñjaliḥ | tapasā mahatā yukta upavāsaphalaṁ labhet ||
Śakra (Indra) sprach: „Wenn jemand ohne Nahrung bleibt, mit erhobenen Armen steht, die Hände ehrfürchtig gefaltet hält und den Blick in beherrschter Sammlung fest richtet, dann—mit großer Askese (tapas) begabt—erlangt er das Verdienst, das aus dem Fasten (upavāsa) erwächst.“
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The merit of fasting (upavāsa-phala) is achieved through disciplined austerity—abstaining from food together with a reverent, restrained posture (raised arms, joined hands) and focused attention—showing that inner intent and tapas are central, not mere bodily deprivation.
Śakra (Indra) is instructing about the efficacy of ascetic observances, describing a specific tapas-like posture and state of fasting, and stating that such disciplined practice yields the spiritual ‘fruit’ associated with upavāsa.