Shloka 22
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
प्रविष्टमाश्रमं चापि पूर्वमेव ददर्श सः । असितो देवलो राजंश्रिन्तयामास बुद्धिमान्
praviṣṭam āśramaṃ cāpi pūrvam eva dadarśa saḥ | asito devalo rājan cintayāmāsa buddhimān ||
Vaiśampāyana sprach: Er sah, dass das āśrama bereits zuvor betreten worden war. O König, der kluge Asita Devala verfiel erneut in sorgenschwere Betrachtung—verstört darüber, dass ein anderer die Einsiedelei vor ihm erreicht hatte, trotz seiner eigenen großen Anstrengung und Macht. Der Augenblick zeigt, wie selbst vollendete Asketen durch feinen Stolz, Rivalität und die Notwendigkeit der Selbstbeherrschung geprüft werden können.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the wise can be shaken by subtle ego—such as anxiety over being surpassed. The verse points to the ethical need for vigilance, humility, and mastery over competitive impulses, especially in spiritual life.
The speaker reports that the hermitage had already been entered by someone earlier. Seeing this, the sage Asita Devala becomes troubled and begins to ponder anxiously, indicating a renewed inner agitation upon encountering an unexpected precedence.