Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
नानाशकुनिसम्भोज्यै: फलैरव॑क्षेरलंकृतम् । यथास्थानविनिक्षिप्तैर्भूषितं भस्मराशिभि:
nānā-śakuni-sambhojyaiḥ phalair avakṣer alaṅkṛtam | yathā-sthāna-vinikṣiptair bhūṣitaṃ bhasma-rāśibhiḥ ||
Vāsudeva berkata: Pertapaan itu dihiasi aneka buah yang layak dimakan berbagai burung, beserta pepohonan yang sarat olehnya. Tumpukan abu, diletakkan pada tempatnya masing-masing, menambah keindahan asketisnya—tanda laku disiplin dan upacara suci, bukan perhiasan duniawi.
वासुदेव उवाच
True beauty in a dharmic life is not luxury but disciplined simplicity: natural abundance (fruits for creatures) and ritual austerity (ash from sacred fires) become the ‘ornaments’ of an āśrama, pointing to restraint, purity, and ordered conduct.
Vāsudeva is describing the appearance of a hermitage: it is decorated by fruit-bearing trees and fruits suitable for birds, and by ash-heaps placed neatly in their proper locations—suggesting ongoing sacred fires, rites, and an ascetic, well-ordered environment.