Shloka 26
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
Devanagari script
तपस्वी नियताहार: शममास्थाय वाग्यतः
Translation
O Grandfather! I, an ascetic of restrained food, established in calm and with speech held in check—living on little, in silence and with a tranquil mind—performed austerities for a very long time upon the Himālaya. Pleased thereby, the Lord Śaṅkara (Mahādeva) bore upon his head the unbearable torrent of the Gaṅgā; yet even by the fruit of that penance I have not, in this world, attained my sought-for end.
Word by Word
तपस्वीan ascetic
तपस्वी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootतपस्विन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
नियताहारःone with regulated food
नियताहारः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootनियत-आहार
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
शमम्tranquillity, calm
शमम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootशम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
आस्थायhaving adopted/undertaken
आस्थाय:
TypeVerb
Rootआ-स्था
FormAbsolutive (Gerund)
वाक्-यतःrestrained in speech
वाक्-यतः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootवाक्-यत
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पितामहO grandsire
पितामह:
TypeNoun
Rootपितामह
FormMasculine, Vocative, Singular
मिताहारीmoderate in eating
मिताहारी:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootमित-आहारिन्
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
Speaker
भगीरथ उवाच
Character Dynamics
Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)
Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)
Philosophical Teaching
Political Layer
Geographic Context
Meter (Chandas)
Sandhi Notes