Shloka 47
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
अथ प्रवृत्ते गान्धर्वे दिव्ये ऋषिरुपाविशत् । दिव्यं संवत्सरं तत्रारमतैष महातपा:,वह दिव्य नृत्य-गीत आरम्भ होनेपर महातपस्वी ऋषि अष्टावक्र भी दर्शक-मण्डलीमें आ बैठे और वे देवताओंके वर्षसे एक वर्षतक इसी आमोद-प्रमोदमें रमते रहे
atha pravṛtte gāndharve divye ṛṣir upāviśat | divyaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ tatrāramata eṣa mahātapāḥ ||
Bhīṣma said: “When the celestial Gandharva performance began, the sage took his seat among the spectators. That great ascetic delighted there for a full divine year, absorbed in the heavenly music and dance—showing how even a disciplined seer may, without attachment, partake of refined joy when it is orderly and auspicious.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse suggests that disciplined life is not merely rejection of all pleasure; when enjoyment is orderly, elevated, and free from grasping, even a great ascetic may participate without compromising dharma.
As a divine Gandharva performance begins, a sage sits with the audience and remains there, delighting in the celestial music and dance for the duration of a divine year.