Shloka 9
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
जैगीषव्यं मुनिवरं न ददर्शाथ देवल: । आहारकाले मतिमान् परिव्राड़ जनमेजय
jaigīṣavyaṃ munivaraṃ na dadarśātha devalaḥ | āhārakāle matimān parivrāḍ janamejaya
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then Devala did not see the eminent sage Jaigīṣavya. O wise Janamejaya, at the time of taking food, that discerning wandering ascetic found him absent—hinting at the discipline and unpredictability of a renunciant’s movements and the restraint that governs such a life.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ascetic ideal: a true renunciant is not bound by convenience or social expectation. Even at mealtime, the sought-after sage may be absent, reflecting disciplined independence and the non-attachment that characterizes a parivrājaka.
Vaiśaṃpāyana narrates to King Janamejaya that Devala went looking for the sage Jaigīṣavya but did not find him. The detail ‘at mealtime’ highlights the moment of search and suggests Jaigīṣavya’s wandering or observance that kept him away.