Shloka 653
जैगीषव्ये तपो नास्ति विस्मापयति यो5सितम् । तदनन्तर मुनिश्रेष्ठ नारदने देवताओंसे कहा--'जैगीषव्यमें तपस्या नहीं है; क्योंकि ये असित मुनिको अपना प्रभाव दिखाकर आश्चर्यमें डाल रहे हैं
jaigīṣavye tapo nāsti vismāpayati yo 'sitam | tadanantaram muniśreṣṭho nārado devatābhyaḥ uvāca—“jaigīṣavye tapasyā nāsti; yataḥ sa asitaṃ muniṃ svaprabhāvena darśayitvā vismāpayati” |
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: “In Jaigīṣavya there is no true austerity, for he is merely astonishing the sage Asita by displaying his own power.” After this, the foremost of sages, Nārada, addressed the gods, saying: “Jaigīṣavya’s practice is not genuine tapas; he is only using his influence to dazzle Asita into wonder.” The passage contrasts authentic ascetic discipline—rooted in restraint and humility—with the show of supernatural prowess meant to impress others.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage warns that true tapas is not the exhibition of extraordinary powers to impress others. Authentic ascetic discipline is measured by inner restraint, sincerity, and humility; using spiritual potency to create amazement is portrayed as lacking genuine austerity.
Vaiśaṃpāyana reports a judgment about Jaigīṣavya: he is said to lack real tapas because he is astonishing the sage Asita by showing his power. Then Nārada, the foremost sage, conveys this assessment to the gods, framing the event as a critique of performative spirituality.