Shloka 4
Viṣṇor Māhātmya and Indriya-saṃyama (विष्णोर्माहात्म्यं तथा इन्द्रियसंयमः)
श्यामाकमशनं तत्र सूर्यपर्णी सुवर्चला । तिक्तं च विरसं शाकं तपसा स्वादुतां गतम्
nārada uvāca | śyāmākam aśanaṃ tatra sūryaparṇī suvarcalā | tiktaṃ ca virasaṃ śākaṃ tapasā svādatāṃ gatam ||
Narada said: “In that place, his food consisted only of śyāmāka grain. For making a pulse-like preparation there was sūryaparṇī, and for greens there was suvarcalā—along with other bitter, tasteless herbs. Yet, through the power of that brāhmaṇa’s austerity, all these simple and unpalatable items became pleasant and sweet to him.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity and inner discipline transform one’s experience: even meager, bitter, tasteless food becomes satisfying when the mind is purified by tapas and contentment.
Nārada describes the sparse provisions available where the brāhmaṇa lives—coarse grain and wild herbs—then notes that the brāhmaṇa’s tapas makes these ordinarily unpalatable foods seem sweet and enjoyable.