Shloka 27
परिक्षिद्वृत्तान्तप्रश्नः
Inquiry into Parīkṣit’s Conduct and the Beginnings of His Downfall
स तं॑ तपोरतं मन्दं शनै: क्षपयते तुदन् । जरत्कारुं तपोलब्धं मन्दात्मानमचेतसम्,“वह उस तपस्वी एवं मूढ़ जरत्कारुको, जो तपको ही लाभ माननेवाला, मन्दात्मा (अदूरदर्शी) और अचेत (जड) हो रहा है, धीरे-धीरे पीड़ा देते हुए दाँतोंसे काट रहा है
sa taṃ taporataṃ mandaṃ śanaiḥ kṣapayate tudan | jaratkāruṃ tapolabdhaṃ mandātmānam acetasaṃ ||
Takṣaka says that Kāla is slowly wearing down Jaratkāru—absorbed in austerity yet dull-witted—by repeatedly tormenting him. He bites the ascetic, who takes austerity itself as his sole gain and has grown short-sighted and unthinking, draining his strength little by little.
तक्षक उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity without discernment can become a vulnerability: tapas is not merely self-mortification but should be guided by awareness and right judgment; otherwise, one may be harmed by hostile forces and fail to protect dharma.
Takṣaka describes how he is gradually weakening the ascetic Jaratkāru by repeatedly tormenting and biting him, portraying the sage as absorbed in tapas yet becoming dull and unresponsive.