Shloka 46
Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation
स बह्वऋचस्ताभिरपारणीय- तप:श्रियानर्घ्यपरिच्छदेषु । गृहेषु नानोपवनामलाम्भ:- सरस्सु सौगन्धिककाननेषु ॥ ४५ ॥ महार्हशय्यासनवस्त्रभूषण- स्नानानुलेपाभ्यवहारमाल्यकै: । स्वलङ्कृत स्त्रीपुरुषेषु नित्यदा रेमेऽनुगायद्द्विजभृङ्गवन्दिषु ॥ ४६ ॥
sa bahv-ṛcas tābhir apāraṇīya- tapaḥ-śriyānarghya-paricchadeṣu gṛheṣu nānopavanāmalāmbhaḥ- saraḥsu saugandhika-kānaneṣu
Because Saubhari Muni, the bahvṛca, was expert in flawless mantra-chanting, the splendor of his severe austerities ripened into an opulent household—fine garments and ornaments, well-adorned maidservants and manservants, and many parks with clear-water lakes and fragrant gardens. There, amid the perfume of flowers, birds sang and bees hummed, while professional singers offered their songs. His home abounded in precious beds and seats, bathing arrangements, sandalwood unguents, flower garlands, and delicious dishes. Thus surrounded by such prosperity, the muni delighted in domestic life with his many wives.
Saubhari Ṛṣi was a great yogī. Yogic perfection makes available eight material opulences — aṇimā, laghimā, mahimā, prāpti, prākāmya, īśitva, vaśitva and kāmāvasāyitā. Saubhari Muni exhibited superexcellence in material enjoyment by dint of his yogic perfection. The word bahv-ṛca means “expert in chanting mantras. ” As material opulence can be achieved by ordinary material means, it can also be achieved by subtle means through mantras. By chanting mantras, Saubhari Muni arranged for material opulence, but this was not perfection in life. As will be seen, Saubhari Muni became very dissatisfied with material opulence and thus left everything and reentered the forest in the vānaprastha order and achieved final success. Those who are not ātma-tattva-vit, who do not know the spiritual value of life, can be satisfied with external material opulences, but those who are ātma-tattva-vit are not inspired by material opulence. This is the instruction we can derive from the life and activities of Saubhari Muni.
FAQs
This verse links true splendor and stable prosperity to tapasya—purifying discipline that produces an inexhaustible radiance, not merely material acquisition.
He is portraying the refined, dharmic opulence of a righteous royal setting—prosperity expressed through purity, beauty, and cultured living.
Practice steady self-discipline (simplicity, restraint, sacred study) so that success is supported by inner strength and purity rather than stress and excess.