Shloka 59
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
सुदुःखान् नियमांस्तांस्तान् वहतः सुतपोधनान् । पश्यन् मुनीन् बहुविधानू प्रवेष्टमुपचक्रमे
suduḥkhān niyamāṁs tāṁs tān vahataḥ sutapodhanān | paśyan munīn bahuvidhānū praveṣṭum upacakrame ||
Vāsudeva dit : «Voyant maintes sortes de sages ascètes—riches d’austérité et de trésor spirituel—porter des disciplines et des contraintes d’une dureté extrême, je me mis en devoir d’entrer dans ce grand ermitage.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights reverence for tapas and niyama: ethical and spiritual authority is grounded in disciplined self-restraint, even when it is arduous, and such discipline commands respect from even the greatest figures.
Vāsudeva describes approaching and preparing to enter a great hermitage after observing numerous sages engaged in diverse, demanding ascetic observances.