Mahabharata 1.175.46 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 175, Shloka 46
पाण्डवानां पाञ्चालगमनम्
The Pāṇḍavas’ Journey toward Pāñcāla and News of the Svayaṃvara
बलाबल विनिश्चित्य तप एव परं बलम् | स राज्यं स्फीतमुत्सज्य तां च दीप्तां नृपश्रियम्
balābala-viniścitya tapa eva paraṁ balam | sa rājyaṁ sphītam utsṛjya tāṁ ca dīptāṁ nṛpaśriyam |
Setelah menimbang mana kekuatan sejati dan mana yang semu, ia menetapkan bahwa tapa (austeritas) sajalah kekuatan tertinggi. Maka ia meninggalkan kerajaannya yang makmur beserta kemilau kejayaan raja, menyingkirkan kenikmatan, dan memusatkan batin pada laku tapa.
गन्धर्व उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that the highest form of strength is not political power or wealth but tapas—disciplined self-control and sustained spiritual effort. It also implies that such inner power carries responsibility, since intense tapas can disturb the balance of the worlds.
A Gandharva recounts how Viśvāmitra, after judging true strength, renounced his prosperous kingdom and royal glory to pursue austerities. Through successful tapas he gained formidable spiritual radiance, affected the worlds, and ultimately attained brāhmaṇa-status, later sharing Soma-drinking with Indra.
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