Shloka 47
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
भोगांश्व॒ पृष्ठतः कृत्वा तपस्येव मनो दधे | स गत्वा तपसा सिद्धि लोकान् विष्ट भ्य तेजसा,इस प्रकार बलाबलका विचार करके उन्होंने तपस्याको ही सर्वोत्तम बल निश्चत किया और अपने समृद्धिशाली राज्य तथा देदीप्यमान राज्यलक्ष्मीको छोड़कर, भोगोंको पीछे करके तपस्यामें ही मन लगाया। इस तपस्यासे सिद्धिको प्राप्त हो उद्दीप्त तेजवाले विश्वामित्रजीने अपने प्रभावसे सम्पूर्ण लोकोंको स्तब्ध एवं संतप्त कर दिया और (अन्ततोगत्वा) ब्राह्मणत्व प्राप्त कर लिया; फिर वे इन्द्रके साथ सोमपान करने लगे
bhogān pṛṣṭhataḥ kṛtvā tapasy eva mano dadhe | sa gatvā tapasā siddhiṁ lokān viṣṭabhya tejasā ||
Placing pleasures behind him, he fixed his mind solely on austerity (tapas). Having attained success through tapas, blazing with spiritual power, he overawed and scorched the worlds by his radiance—until at last he obtained the status of a brāhmaṇa; thereafter he drank Soma together with Indra.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates tapas (disciplined austerity) as a superior form of strength: by placing sense-pleasures behind and mastering the mind, one gains spiritual accomplishment (siddhi) and transformative elevation in status and authority.
A Gandharva describes Viśvāmitra turning away from royal enjoyments, undertaking severe austerities, attaining siddhi, and with his tejas overpowering the worlds; ultimately he attains brāhmaṇa-status and then partakes of Soma with Indra.