Shloka 24
Adhyāya 71: Kaca and the Saṃjīvanī-vidyā
Devayānī–Śukra Episode
मेनके तव भारो<यं विश्वामित्र: सुमध्यमे | शंसितात्मा सुदुर्धर्ष उग्रे तपसि वर्तते,'सुन्दरी मेनके! उन्हें तपस्यासे विचलित करनेका यह महान भार मैं तुम्हारे ऊपर छोड़ता हूँ। विश्वामित्रका अन्तःकरण शुद्ध है। उन्हें पराजित करना अत्यन्त कठिन है और वे इस समय घोर तपस्यामें लगे हैं
kaṇva uvāca | menake tava bhāro 'yaṃ viśvāmitraḥ sumadhyame | śaṃsitātmā sudurdharṣa ugraṃ tapasi vartate ||
Kaṇva said: “O Menakā, slender-waisted one, this burden now rests upon you—(to deal with) Viśvāmitra. His inner self is disciplined and purified; he is exceedingly hard to overcome, and at present he is engaged in fierce austerities.”
कण्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical power of tapas (austerity) and inner purity: a disciplined mind is difficult to shake, and attempts to disturb such virtue are portrayed as a serious moral burden.
Kaṇva addresses Menakā and assigns her a weighty task connected with Viśvāmitra, emphasizing that the sage is currently performing intense austerities and is exceptionally formidable due to his purified, steadfast character.