Shloka 13
Adhyāya 112: Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s Description of an Exemplary Brahmacārī
Ascetic Presence and Vow-Practice
न चापि पाद्यं बहु मन्यते5सौ फलानि चेमानि मया55हृतानि । एवंव्रतो5स्मीति च मामवोचत् फलानि चान्यानि समाददन्मे,मैंने जो पाद्य अर्पण किया, उसको उसने बहुत महत्त्व नहीं दिया। मेरे दिये हुए ये फल भी उसने स्वीकार नहीं किये और मुझसे कहा--“मेरा ऐसा ही नियम है।” साथ ही उसने मेरे लिये दूसरे-दूसरे फल दिये
na cāpi pādyaṃ bahu manyate ’sau phalāni cemāni mayā hṛtāni | evaṃvrato ’smīti ca mām avocat phalāni cānyāni samādadān me ||
He did not attach much importance even to the water for washing the feet (pādya). Nor did he accept the fruits I had brought. He told me, “Such is my vow (vrata),” and at the same time he gave me other fruits in exchange.
ऋष्यशुड्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined vow may require refusing certain offerings, yet dharma is preserved by maintaining courtesy and reciprocity—here, the ascetic declines what is brought but still responds with a gift, balancing renunciation with humane conduct.
The speaker recounts meeting an ascetic who neither valued the customary pādya nor accepted the fruits offered. Explaining that this was his rule of life, the ascetic nevertheless gave the speaker other fruits, indicating both strict observance and considerate exchange.