Shloka 122
Tīrtha-yātrā: Phalaśruti and Sacred Geography from Lohitya to Prayāga
Pulastya’s Instruction
“धर्मज्ञ महर्षे! मुनिप्रवरा आप किसलिये नृत्य कर रहे हैं? आज आपके इस हर्षातिरेकका क्या कारण है? ।। ऋषिरुवाच तपस्विनो धर्मपथे स्थितस्य द्विजसत्तम | कि न पश्यसि मे ब्रह्मन् कराच्छाकरसं ख्रुतम्
ghulastya uvāca | dharmajña maharṣe! munipravara āpa kisaliye nṛtya kara rahe haiṁ? āja āpake isa harṣātirekakā kyā kāraṇa hai? || ṛṣir uvāca | tapasvino dharmapathe sthitasya dvijasattama | kiṁ na paśyasi me brahman karāc chākarasaṁ khrutam ||
Ghūlastya said: “O sage who knows dharma, foremost among ascetics—why are you dancing? What is the cause of this extraordinary joy today?” The Ṛṣi replied: “O best of the twice-born, steadfast on the path of dharma and devoted to austerity—do you not see, O brāhmaṇa, that I have obtained sugarcane-juice from my own hand?”
घुलस्त्य उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the ethical beauty of contentment: even a small, honestly obtained comfort can become a source of pure joy for one established in dharma and austerity. It contrasts inner satisfaction with the need for grand external causes.
A character named Ghulastya sees a revered ascetic dancing in unusual delight and asks the reason. The sage replies that his joy comes from having obtained sugarcane juice—presented as a simple but meaningful gain for a disciplined life.