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 ||
Là, Kuśika aperçut alors des spectacles merveilleux, comme empreints d’un pressentiment céleste : des montagnes aux pentes argentées, et des lacs remplis de lotus, où lys et lotus croissaient ensemble—signes d’un domaine élevé et de bon augure, qui incline l’esprit vers des desseins plus hauts.
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.