Shloka 14
गान्धारीपुत्रोत्पत्तिः — The Birth of Gāndhārī’s Hundred Sons (and Yuyutsu); Omens and Counsel on Succession
शूलस्थ: स तु धर्मात्मा कालेन महता ततः । निराहारो<पि विप्रर्षिमरणं नाभ्यपद्यत,धर्मात्मा ब्रह्मर्षि माण्डव्य दीर्घकालतक उस शूलके अग्रभागपर बैठे रहे। वहाँ भोजन न मिलनेपर भी उनकी मृत्यु नहीं हुई
śūlasthaḥ sa tu dharmātmā kālena mahatā tataḥ | nirāhāro ’pi viprarṣir maraṇaṃ nābhyapadyata ||
Terpancang di ujung pasak, resi yang berhati dharma itu tinggal di sana untuk waktu yang amat lama. Bahkan tanpa makanan, brahmarsi itu tidak juga menyerah kepada maut—demikianlah daya tapa dan keteguhan dharmanya.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral and spiritual force of dharma and tapas: a truly righteous ascetic can endure extreme suffering without being broken, suggesting that inner discipline and ethical steadfastness can transcend bodily limits.
Māṇḍavya, a brahmin-seer described as dharmātmā, has been placed upon a stake. Despite the passage of a long time and the absence of food, he does not die, underscoring his extraordinary ascetic power and setting up the wider episode concerning justice and the consequences of actions.