Shloka 99
Rudra-Śiva: Names, Two Natures, and the Logic of Epithets (रुद्रनाम-बहुरूपत्व-प्रकरणम्)
वालखिल्यास्तप:सिद्धा मुनयः सूर्यमण्डले । उज्छे तिष्ठन्ति धर्मज्ञा: शाकुनीं वृत्तिमास्थिता:
vālakhilyās tapaḥsiddhā munayaḥ sūryamaṇḍale | ucche tiṣṭhanti dharmajñāḥ śākunīṁ vṛttim āsthitāḥ ||
Maheshvara sprach: „Die Vālakhilya-Weisen, durch Askese vollendet, wohnen im Sonnenorb. Als Kenner des Dharma leben sie nach der Lebensweise des ‘Auflesens’: wie Vögel erhalten sie sich, indem sie verstreute Körner aufpicken, nehmen nur, was sie finden, und fügen niemandem Schaden zu.“
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises an austere, non-exploitative livelihood: the dharma-knowing sages sustain themselves by ‘gleaning’ like birds—taking only what is freely available, minimizing harm, desire, and dependence.
Maheśvara describes the Vālakhilya sages as tapas-perfected beings who reside in the Sun’s sphere and maintain themselves through uccha-vṛtti (gleaning), emphasizing their disciplined, dharmic way of life.