Shloka 49
अध्याय ३५१ — उञ्छवृत्ति-व्रतसिद्धेः मानुषस्य परमगतिः
Sūrya–Nāga Dialogue on the Perfected Gleaner-Ascetic
यं मानसं वै प्रवदन्ति विप्रा: पितामहस्योत्तमबुद्धियुक्तम् । वसिष्ठमग्य्रं च तपोनिधानं यस्यातिसूर्य व्यतिरिच्यते भा:
Vaiśampāyana uvāca — yaṁ mānasaṁ vai pravadanti viprāḥ pitāmahasyottama-buddhi-yuktam | vasiṣṭham agryaṁ ca tapo-nidhānaṁ yasyāti-sūryaṁ vyatiricyate bhāḥ ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Les brahmanes le déclarent fils né de l’esprit du Grand-Père (Brahmā), doué de l’intelligence la plus haute : Vasiṣṭha, le premier des sages, trésor d’austérités, dont l’éclat surpasse même celui du soleil. Dans la lignée de ce brahmarṣi Vasiṣṭha paraîtra le grand voyant Parāśara, puissant et majestueux : vaste réserve de savoir védique, le meilleur des ascètes, comme s’il était la demeure même du tapas. En ce temps-là, ce Parāśara sera ton père.»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual excellence is measured by inner qualities—intellect (buddhi), austerity (tapas), and Vedic wisdom—so much so that the text describes a sage’s radiance as surpassing the sun. It also emphasizes the ethical weight of lineage: one’s origins are linked to a tradition of discipline and learning, which carries responsibilities.
Vaiśampāyana is describing the exalted status of the sage Vasiṣṭha—said to be a mind-born son of Brahmā—and then foretells that in Vasiṣṭha’s lineage will arise the powerful seer Parāśara, who will become the father of the person being addressed.