Shloka 58
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
तत्राश्रमपद्द दिव्यं ददर्श भगवानथ,वहाँ भगवान् अष्टावक्रने एक दिव्य आश्रम देखा। उस आश्रमके चारों ओर नाना प्रकारके सुवर्णमय एवं रत्नभूषित पर्वत शोभा पा रहे थे। वहाँकी मणिमयी भूमिपर कई सुन्दर बावड़ियाँ बनी थीं
tatrāśramapadaṁ divyaṁ dadarśa bhagavān atha |
Dijo Bhishma: Entonces el venerable sabio contempló un lugar de ermita maravilloso. En torno a aquel ashram se alzaban muchas montañas que relucían como oro y estaban engalanadas con joyas; sobre un suelo semejante a gemas se habían labrado numerosos pozos escalonados de gran belleza. La escena subraya la santidad y la prosperidad que acompañan a una morada recta y cargada de poder espiritual, donde naturaleza y riqueza parecen armonizarse bajo el dharma y no ser arrebatadas por la violencia.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a dharmic, spiritually potent place is portrayed as naturally auspicious—beauty, order, and even wealth (gold, gems, well-water) appear as offerings to righteousness rather than as objects of conquest. It frames prosperity as legitimate when it supports sanctity and restraint.
In Bhishma’s narration, the sage (identified in the accompanying gloss as Ashtavakra) arrives at a location and beholds a marvelous hermitage-site, described with jewel-like terrain, golden and gem-adorned mountains, and many beautiful stepwells.