Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
तत्र दिव्यानभिप्रायान् ददर्श कुशिकस्तदा । पर्वतान् रूप्यसानूंश्व नलिनीश्व सपड़कजा:
tatra divyān abhiprāyān dadarśa kuśikas tadā | parvatān rūpyasānūṁś ca nalinīś ca sapaṅkajāḥ ||
Allí, Kuśika contempló entonces visiones maravillosas, como si insinuaran el cielo: montañas de laderas argentadas y lagos colmados de lotos, donde lirios y lotos crecían juntos; señales de un ámbito excelso y propicio que atrae la mente hacia fines más elevados.
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights how a purified seeker’s journey is marked by auspicious, elevating perceptions—natural beauty becomes a signpost that turns the mind toward higher purpose (abhiprāya) and supports dharmic, ascetic aspiration.
Bhīṣma describes Kuśika arriving at a remarkable region and witnessing extraordinary scenery: mountains with silvery ridges and lotus-filled lakes, indicating a sacred or spiritually charged landscape.