Shloka 17
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
प्रतिगृह्म ततो धर्मस्तथैवोष्णं तथा नवम् | भुक््त्वा प्रीतो5स्मि विप्ररषे तमुक्त्वा स मुनिर्गतः,उन्होंने देखा कि परम बुद्धिमान महर्षि विश्वामित्र केवल वायु पीकर रहते हुए सिरपर भोजनपात्र रखे खड़े हैं। यह देखकर धर्मने वह भोजन ले लिया। वह अन्न उसी प्रकार तुरंतकी तैयार की हुई रसोईके समान गरम था। उसे खाकर वे बोले--“ब्रह्मर्ष! मैं आपपर बहुत प्रसन्न हूँ।! ऐसा कहकर मुनिवेषधारी धर्मदेव चले गये
pratigṛhya tato dharmas tathaivoṣṇaṃ tathā navam | bhuktvā prīto 'smi viprarṣe tam uktvā sa munir gataḥ ||
Then Dharma accepted it; the food was still hot and fresh, as if just prepared. Having eaten, he said, “O rishi, I am pleased with you.” After speaking thus, Dharma—wearing the guise of a muni—departed.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
True dharma is shown through unwavering integrity and austerity even under trial; when virtue is genuine, Dharma himself acknowledges and rewards it.
Dharma, in the guise of a sage, accepts and eats the offered food, notes that it is hot and freshly prepared, praises the addressed brahmarṣi as pleasing to him, and then departs—signaling the completion of a moral test.