Shloka 11
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
प्राधीतद्विजघोषैश्न क्वचित् क्वचिदलंकृतम् । फलमूलसमाहारैर्महद्धिश्वोपशोभितम्,मोरोंके मधुर केकारव, दात्यूह नामक पक्षियोंके कल-कूजन और कोयलोंकी कुहू-कुहू ध्वनि हो रही थी। उनके शब्द बड़े ही सुखद तथा कानों और मनको हर लेनेवाले थे। कहीं- कहीं स्वाध्यायशील ब्राह्मणोंके वेद-मन्त्रोंका गम्भीर घोष गूँज रहा था और इन सबके कारण उन आश्रमोंकी शोभा बहुत बढ़ गयी थी एवं वह आश्रम फल-मूलका आहार करनेवाले महापुरुषोंसे सुशोभित हो रहा था
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: prādhītadvijaghoṣaiś ca kvacit kvacid alaṅkṛtam | phalamūlasamāhārair mahadbhir eva upaśobhitam ||
Vaiśampāyana said: In some places the hermitage-settlements were adorned by the deep, resonant recitation of Vedic study by learned brāhmaṇas. They were further beautified by great ascetics who lived on gathered fruits and roots—so that the very sound of disciplined learning and the sight of restrained living together heightened the sanctity and splendor of those āśramas.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharma expressed through disciplined learning (svādhyāya/Vedic recitation) and restrained living (subsisting on fruits and roots). Ethical excellence is shown not by display, but by self-control, simplicity, and the sustaining presence of sacred study.
The narrator describes the atmosphere of the hermitages: in different places one hears the grave sound of brāhmaṇas reciting their studies, and one sees great ascetics living on gathered fruits and roots. These features together make the āśramas appear especially beautiful and holy.