Shloka 10
Nāvyāśrama-nirmāṇa and Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s Distraction (नाव्याश्रमनिर्माणम्—ऋश्यशृङ्गस्य विचलनम्)
कौश्यां बृष्यामास्स्व यथोपजोषं कृष्णाजिनेनावृतायां सुखायाम् । क्व चाश्रमस्तव किं नाम चेदं व्रतं ब्रह्मं श्वरसि हि देववत् त्वम्,इस कुशासनपर आप सुखलपूर्वक बैठें। इसपर काला मृगचर्म बिछाया गया है, इसलिये इसपर बैठनेमें आराम रहेगा। आपका आश्रम कहाँ है? और आपका नाम क्या है? ब्रह्मन! आप देवताके समान यह किस व्रतका आचरण कर रहे हैं?
kauśyāṁ bṛśyām āsasva yathopajoṣaṁ kṛṣṇājinena āvṛtāyāṁ sukhāyām | kva cāśramas tava kiṁ nāma ca idaṁ vrataṁ brahman īśvarasi hi devavat tvam ||
R̥ṣyaśṛṅga said: “Sit here comfortably on this kuśa-seat, covered with a black antelope-skin, so it will be pleasant to sit upon. Where is your hermitage? What is your name? And what sacred observance (vrata) are you practicing, O brāhmaṇa? You appear radiant and self-controlled like a god.”
ऋष्यशुड्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality and reverence: offering a proper ritual seat (kuśa with kṛṣṇājina) and respectfully inquiring about a visitor’s āśrama, name, and vrata—recognizing spiritual discipline as a sign of godlike self-mastery.
R̥śyaśṛṅga addresses a visitor, invites him to sit comfortably on a kuśa-seat covered with black antelope-skin, and then asks where the visitor’s hermitage is, what his name is, and what vow/observance he is practicing, noting his godlike appearance.