Shloka 23
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
दृष्टवा प्रभावं तपसरो जैगीषव्यस्य योगजम् | चिन्तयामास राजेन्द्र तदा स मुनिसत्तम:
dṛṣṭvā prabhāvaṃ tapasaro jaigīṣavyasya yogajam | cintayāmāsa rājendra tadā sa munisattamaḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana said: Having witnessed the yogic power born of the ascetic heat of Jaigīṣavya, that foremost of sages then fell into deep reflection, O best of kings—pondering the meaning and moral weight of such spiritual potency.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that true power can arise from disciplined austerity and yoga, and that such power demands thoughtful discernment—spiritual potency is not merely spectacle but something to be weighed for its ethical implications and proper use.
After seeing the remarkable yogic power produced by the sage Jaigīṣavya’s austerities, a foremost sage (within the narration) pauses to reflect deeply, while Vaiśampāyana relates this to the king listening to the Mahābhārata.