Shloka 10
Nārada’s Exempla of Tapas and Assurance to Dhṛtarāṣṭra (नारदोपदेशः—तपःसिद्ध्युदाहरणम्)
प्रभो! उन आश्रमोंमें जहाँ-तहाँ मृगोंके झुंड निर्भय एवं शान्तचित्त होकर आरामसे बैठे थे। पक्षियोंके समुदाय नि:शंक होकर उच्च स्वरसे कलरव करते थे ।।
Vaśampāyana uvāca: prabho! teṣv āśrameṣu yatra-tatra mṛgāṇāṃ jhaṇḍāni nirbhayāni śāntacittāni ca viśrāntāni āsan; pakṣi-saṃghāś ca niḥśaṅkāḥ uccaiḥ svaraiḥ kalaravaṃ kurvanti sma. kekābhi-nīlakaṇṭhānāṃ mayūrāṇāṃ madhuraiḥ kekāravaiḥ, dātyūhānāṃ ca kūjitaiḥ, kokilānāṃ kuhūravaiḥ—sukhaiḥ śruti-mano-haraiḥ—sarvatra dhvaniḥ pravartate sma; kvacit svādhyāya-śīlānāṃ brāhmaṇānāṃ veda-mantrāṇāṃ gambhīra-ghoṣaḥ pratidhvanati sma; etaiḥ sarvaiḥ kāraṇaiḥ teṣām āśramāṇāṃ śobhā vardhitā, phala-mūlāhārair mahāpuruṣaiś ca te āśramāḥ suśobhitāḥ.
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai tuan, di pertapaan-pertapaan itu kawanan rusa duduk di sana-sini—tanpa takut, tenang hati, dan nyaman. Rombongan burung, tanpa gentar, berseru nyaring. Terdengar di mana-mana pekik merdu merak berleher biru tua, koakan lembut burung dātyūha, dan suara kukuk ‘kuhū-kuhū’ burung koel—semuanya menyenangkan, memikat telinga dan menawan batin.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical ideal of āśrama-dharma: a life of restraint, study, and non-violence that creates an atmosphere where even wild creatures feel safe. The harmony of nature and Vedic recitation symbolizes inner peace and disciplined living after the turmoil of war.
Vaiśampāyana describes the forest hermitages: deer resting without fear, birds calling freely, and the soundscape filled with peacocks, dātyūhas, cuckoos, and the deep chanting of Vedic mantras by brāhmaṇas devoted to daily recitation. The āśramas are portrayed as radiant with ascetics living on fruits and roots.