Shloka 42
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
काम यथादद्विहितं विधात्रा पृष्टेन वाच्यं तु मया यथावत् | तपो हि नान्यच्चानशनान्मतं मे नमोस्तु ते देववर प्रसीद
kāmaṃ yathādad dvihitaṃ vidhātrā pṛṣṭena vācyaṃ tu mayā yathāvat | tapo hi nānyac cānaśanān mataṃ me namo 'stu te deva-vara prasīda ||
Bhagīratha dit : «Ô Seigneur des dieux, j’ai observé comme il se doit le vœu de jeûne, tel que l’a prescrit le Créateur, selon ma propre résolution. Puisque tu m’as interrogé, il convient que je dise tout exactement tel que c’est ; c’est pourquoi j’ai tout déclaré. À mon sens, il n’est pas d’austérité plus grande que le jeûne. Je me prosterne devant toi, ô le meilleur des dieux — sois-moi favorable.»
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates disciplined fasting (anaśana) as a supreme form of tapas and links ascetic practice with dharma: when questioned by a higher authority, one should speak truthfully and completely (yathāvat), without concealment.
Bhagīratha addresses a divine being, explaining that he has properly completed the prescribed fast. Because the deity has asked, he reports his actions fully and then offers reverence, requesting the god’s favor.