Shloka 16
गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्
Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu
स दृष्टवा शिरसा भक्तं प्रियमाणं महर्षिणा । तिष्ठता वायुभक्षेण विश्वामित्रेण धीमता
sa dṛṣṭvā śirasā bhaktaṁ priyamāṇaṁ maharṣiṇā | tiṣṭhatā vāyubhakṣeṇa viśvāmitreṇa dhīmatā ||
Nārada dit : Voyant le sage Viśvāmitra, ferme et inébranlable, ne vivant que d’air et portant sur sa tête la nourriture offerte en signe de dévotion austère, Dharma (sous l’apparence d’un ascète) comprit la profondeur de sa maîtrise. Il accepta alors le mets ; il était brûlant, comme tout juste apprêté. Après avoir mangé, il déclara : « Ô Brahmarṣi, je suis grandement satisfait de toi. » Puis, le dieu Dharma, toujours vêtu en muni, s’en alla.
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast austerity and sincere offering are not merely external acts; they reveal inner self-mastery. Dharma ‘tests’ and then affirms Viśvāmitra’s righteousness, showing that true merit lies in disciplined restraint and reverent intention.
Nārada describes Viśvāmitra standing in severe austerity, living on air, with an offering placed upon his head. Dharma, disguised as a sage, accepts and eats the food, finds it miraculously hot like fresh cooking, praises Viśvāmitra as a Brahmarṣi, and then departs.