Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
उक्तस्तैरस्मि गच्छ त्वं ब्रह्मतोकमिति प्रभो । प्रीतेनोक्तसहस््रेण ब्राह्मणानामहं प्रभो । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्तो मा भूत् ते5त्र विचारणा
uktas tair asmi gaccha tvaṁ brahmalokam iti prabho | prītenokta-sahasreṇa brāhmaṇānām ahaṁ prabho | imaṁ lokam anuprāpto mā bhūt te 'tra vicāraṇā ||
Bhagīratha dijo: «Oh Señor, ellos me dijeron: “Ve a Brahmaloka”. Oh Soberano, por el benévolo mandato y la bendición de aquellos miles de brāhmaṇas complacidos, he alcanzado este mundo. Por ello, oh Señor, que no haya duda en tu mente acerca de este asunto».
भगीरथ उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical authority of the righteous: when brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis are genuinely pleased by one’s conduct and rites, their blessing and instruction are treated as a trustworthy warrant for spiritual attainment. It also models humility—Bhagīratha asks the listener not to harbor suspicion, grounding his claim in the approval of the virtuous.
Bhagīratha explains that, after completing a certain undertaking, thousands of brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis arrived, were satisfied with him, and joyfully instructed him to go to Brahmaloka. He states that by their pleased blessing he has attained his present state/world, and he requests that no doubt be entertained about it.