Shloka 15
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
नातप्ततपसा शकक््यो द्रष्टमेष महागिरि: । आरोढुं वापि कौन्तेय तस्मान्नियतवाग् भव,कुन्तीकुमार! जिसने तपस्या नहीं की है वह मनुष्य इस महान् पर्वतको न तो देख सकता है और न चढ़ ही सकता है; अतः तुम मौन व्रत धारण करो
nātaptatapasā śakyo draṣṭum eṣa mahāgiriḥ | āroḍhuṃ vāpi kaunteya tasmān niyatavāg bhava, kuntīkumāra |
Lomāśa said: “O son of Kuntī, one who has not undergone austerity cannot truly behold this great mountain, nor can he climb it. Therefore, restrain your speech and undertake the discipline of silence.”
लोगमश उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual attainment requires inner discipline: austerity (tapas) and restraint of speech (mauna/niyatavāk) are presented as prerequisites for approaching and ascending a sacred, demanding goal symbolized by the great mountain.
During the Pāṇḍavas’ forest journey, the sage Lomasha instructs the son of Kuntī that the great mountain cannot be properly seen or climbed without prior austerity, and he directs him to adopt silence as a form of disciplined preparation.