Shloka 5
Baka Dālbhya at Avakīrṇa-tīrtha: Rāṣṭra-kṣaya and Release through Prasāda (Śalya-parva, Adhyāya 40)
स निर्विण्णस्ततो राजंस्तपस्तेपे महातपा: । ततो वै तपसा तेन प्राप्य वेदाननुत्तमान्,नरेश्वर! इससे महातपस्वी आर्टरिषेण खिन्न एवं विरक्त हो उठे, फिर उन्होंने सरस्वतीके उसी तीर्थमें जाकर बड़ी भारी तपस्या की। उस तपके प्रभावसे उत्तम वेदोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करके वे ऋषिश्रेष्ठ विद्वान वेदज्ञ और सिद्ध हो गये। तदनन्तर उन महातपस्वीने उस तीर्थको तीन वर प्रदान किये--
sa nirviṇṇas tato rājan tapas tepe mahātapāḥ | tato vai tapasā tena prāpya vedān anuttamān nareśvara |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then that great ascetic, having become disheartened and detached, O king, undertook austerities. And by the power of that austerity he attained the unsurpassed Vedas, O lord of men—thus becoming a foremost seer, learned in sacred knowledge and spiritually accomplished.
वैशग्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that inner dispassion (nirveda) and disciplined austerity (tapas) can lead to the attainment of the highest sacred knowledge (the Vedas), suggesting an ethical ideal of self-mastery and sincere spiritual striving.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates to the king that a great ascetic, having become detached, undertakes severe austerities and, through their power, attains unsurpassed Vedic knowledge and spiritual accomplishment.