Shloka 23

Adhyāya 136: Yavakrī–Bharadvāja Saṃvāda and the Bāladhī–Dhanuṣākṣa Gāthā

Arrogance, Boons, and Nimitta

Devanagari script

लोमश उवाच एवमुक्त्वा गत: शक्रो यवक्रीरपि भारत । भूय एवाकरोदू यत्नं तपस्यमितविक्रम:,लोमशजी कहते हैं--युधिष्ठिर! ऐसा कहकर इन्द्र चले गये; तब अत्यन्त पराक्रमी यवक्रीतने भी पुनः तपस्याके लिये ही घोर प्रयास आरम्भ कर दिया

Transliteration

lomaśa uvāca evam uktvā gataḥ śakro yavakrīr api bhārata | bhūya evākarod yatnaṃ tapasy amita-vikramaḥ ||

Translation

Lomaśa said: “Having spoken thus, Indra departed. Then Yavakrī too, O Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira), a man of immeasurable prowess, once again undertook strenuous effort for austerity.”

Word by Word

लोमशःLomaśa (the sage)

उवाचsaid

एवम्thus

उक्त्वाhaving said

गतःwent / departed

शक्रःŚakra (Indra)

यवक्रीःYavakrī (the sage)

अपिalso

भारतO Bhārata (descendant of Bharata)

भूयःagain / once more

एवindeed / just

अकरोत्made / undertook / did

यत्नम्effort

तपसिin austerity / for penance

अमितविक्रमःof immeasurable prowess

Speaker

लोमश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Lomaśa

Śakra (Indra)

Yavakrī

Bhārata (Yudhiṣṭhira)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Persistent effort in spiritual practice (tapas) is powerful, but the verse invites reflection on motive: true tapas should align with dharma and humility, not merely with personal ambition or pride in one’s prowess.

What is happening in the narrative?

After Indra (Śakra) finishes speaking and departs, Yavakrī resumes intense ascetic striving, renewing his effort toward austerities; Lomaśa narrates this to Yudhiṣṭhira.