Shloka 32
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
एकादशाहैरयजं सदक्षिणै- दविर्दादशाहैरश्वमेथैश्व देव । आर्कायणै: षोडशभिश्न ब्रह्ां- स्तेषां फलेनेह न चागतो5स्मि
ekādaśāhair ayajaṁ sa-dakṣiṇaiḥ dvir dvādaśāhair aśvamedhaiś ca deva | ārkāyaṇaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiś ca brahman teṣāṁ phaleneha na cāgato ’smi, deva ||
Bhagīratha dit : «Ô dieu, ô brahmane — j’ai accompli des sacrifices avec les dons rituels prescrits, les uns durant onze jours, les autres deux fois douze jours. J’ai aussi mené à terme de nombreux Aśvamedha, et j’ai entrepris seize fois le rite Ārkāyaṇa. Pourtant, ce n’est pas par le fruit de ces sacrifices que j’ai atteint ici l’accomplissement, ô seigneur.»
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical-spiritual tension in the Mahābhārata: ritual performance and generosity (dakṣiṇā) can generate merit, yet they may still not yield true fulfillment or the highest aim. It points toward the need for inner transformation, right intention, and a deeper dharmic orientation beyond mere accumulation of sacrificial acts.
Bhagīratha addresses a divine/revered interlocutor, recounting the many major sacrifices he has performed—multi-day rites, numerous Aśvamedhas, and sixteen Ārkāyaṇas—then confesses that despite these, he has not attained the desired result ‘here.’ The statement functions as a lament and a prompt for further instruction about what truly leads to the intended spiritual goal.