Shloka 32
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
एकादशाहैरयजं सदक्षिणै- दविर्दादशाहैरश्वमेथैश्व देव । आर्कायणै: षोडशभिश्न ब्रह्ां- स्तेषां फलेनेह न चागतो5स्मि
ekādaśāhair ayajaṁ sa-dakṣiṇaiḥ dvir dvādaśāhair aśvamedhaiś ca deva | ārkāyaṇaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhiś ca brahman teṣāṁ phaleneha na cāgato ’smi, deva ||
Bhagīratha berkata: “Wahai dewa, wahai Brahman—aku melaksanakan yajña dengan dāna-dakṣiṇā yang ditetapkan, ada yang berlangsung sebelas hari dan ada pula dua kali dua belas hari. Aku juga menuntaskan banyak Aśvamedha, dan enam belas kali menjalankan upacara Ārkāyaṇa. Namun bukan oleh buah yajña-yajña itu semata aku mencapai keadaan ini.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a key ethical-spiritual tension in the Mahābhārata: ritual performance and generosity (dakṣiṇā) can generate merit, yet they may still not yield true fulfillment or the highest aim. It points toward the need for inner transformation, right intention, and a deeper dharmic orientation beyond mere accumulation of sacrificial acts.
Bhagīratha addresses a divine/revered interlocutor, recounting the many major sacrifices he has performed—multi-day rites, numerous Aśvamedhas, and sixteen Ārkāyaṇas—then confesses that despite these, he has not attained the desired result ‘here.’ The statement functions as a lament and a prompt for further instruction about what truly leads to the intended spiritual goal.