Shloka 42
इक्ष्वाकुवंश-प्रसङ्गः, पुरंजय-दैवसाहाय्य-कथा, युवनाश्व-मांधातृ-उत्पत्तिः, सौभरि-वैराग्योपदेशः
अथान्तर्जलावस्थितः स सौभरिर् एकाग्रतासमाधानम् अपहायानुदिनं तत् तस्य मत्स्यस्यात्मजपौत्रदौहित्रादिभिः सहातिरमणीयं ललितम् अवेक्ष्याचिन्तयत् । अहो धन्यो ऽयम् ईदृशम् अप्य् अनभिमतं योन्यन्तरम् अवाप्यैभिर् आत्मजपौत्रादिभिः सह रममाणो ऽतीवास्माकं स्पृहाम् उत्पादयति । वयम् अप्य् एवं पुत्रादिभिः सह रमिष्यामः । इत्य् एवम् अभिसमीक्ष्य स तस्माद् अन्तर्जलान् निष्क्रम्य निर्वेष्टुकामः कन्यार्थं मांधातारं राजानम् अगच्छत् ॥
athāntarjalāvasthitaḥ sa saubharir ekāgratāsamādhānam apahāyānudinaṃ tat tasya matsyasyātmajapautradauhitrādibhiḥ sahātiramaṇīyaṃ lalitam avekṣyācintayat | aho dhanyo 'yam īdṛśam apy anabhimataṃ yonyantaram avāpyaibhir ātmajapautrādibhiḥ saha ramamāṇo 'tīvāsmākaṃ spṛhām utpādayati | vayam apy evaṃ putrādibhiḥ saha ramiṣyāmaḥ | ity evam abhisamīkṣya sa tasmād antarjalān niṣkramya nirveṣṭukāmaḥ kanyārthaṃ māṃdhātāraṃ rājānam agacchat ||
Then Saubhari, remaining beneath the waters... let go of the gathered steadiness of one-pointed samādhi. Watching the exceedingly delightful play of that fish... he began to reflect... "I too shall rejoice in the same way, together with sons and family." Having thus considered, he emerged from the waters; and... went to King Māndhātṛ to seek daughters in marriage.
Sage Parāśara (narrating) to Maitreya
Speaker: Parasara
Topic: How Saubhari’s observation of fish-play led to loss of samādhi and the decision to enter household life.
Teaching: Ethical
Quality: revealing
Concept: Even advanced yogic concentration can be undone when desire (kāma) is entertained and rationalized, shifting the seeker from nivṛtti to pravṛtti.
Vedantic Theme: Maya
Application: Treat desire-thoughts early: label, release, and return to practice; avoid comparing one’s life with others’ pleasures; reaffirm one’s chosen āśrama goals.
Vishishtadvaita: Implied contrast: worldly ‘ramana’ is contingent and binding, while true fulfillment is in loving dependence (śeṣatva) upon the Supreme; the episode functions as a negative exemplar steering the mind toward God-centered joy.
Vamsha: Surya
Key Kings: Saubhari, Māndhātṛ
Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman
FAQs
It illustrates how even a powerful yogin can be diverted from samādhi when latent desire is stirred by witnessing worldly affection and progeny.
Through Saubhari’s inner reasoning: seeing familial joy creates longing, leading him to abandon one-pointed concentration and actively seek marriage—showing how mental impressions drive life-choices.
Māndhātṛ anchors the episode within the Solar Dynasty narrative; Saubhari’s request for the king’s daughters ties ascetic legend to royal genealogy and dharma in Ansha 4.