Shloka 49
Saptasārasvata-tīrtha-prasaṅgaḥ | The Saptasārasvata Pilgrimage Account and the Maṅkaṇaka Narrative
वायुभक्षा जलाहारा: पर्णभक्षाश्न॒ तापसा: । नानानियमयुक्ताश्व तथा स्थण्डिलशायिन:
vāyubhakṣā jalāhārāḥ parṇabhakṣāś ca tāpasāḥ | nānāniyamayuktāś ca tathā sthaṇḍilaśāyinaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: There were ascetics who lived on air, others who subsisted only on water, and others who ate only leaves. Observing many different vows and disciplines, some even slept on bare ground. Thus, on the bank of the Sarasvatī, these renowned sages—by their austerity and restraint—enhanced the sanctity and splendor of that foremost river, making its shore a visible seat of dharma and self-mastery.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights niyama (disciplined observance) and tapas (austerity) as visible expressions of dharma: restraint over bodily needs and steadfast practice are portrayed as sanctifying both the practitioner and the sacred space they inhabit.
Vaiśampāyana describes a riverside scene on the Sarasvatī where many kinds of ascetics reside, each following distinct austerities—living on air, water, leaves, and sleeping on bare ground—thereby adorning the riverbank with an atmosphere of holiness and rigorous spiritual practice.