Shloka 246
अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal
ब्रह्मकल्पैर्भवद्धिर्यत् समेतो5हं तपोधना: । “तपोधनो! आप ब्रह्मतुल्य महात्माओंका जो संग मुझे प्राप्त हुआ उससे मैं समझता हूँ कि यहाँ अपने लिये अभीष्ट गति मुझे प्राप्त हो गयी
brahmakalpair bhavadbhir yat sameto 'haṃ tapodhanāḥ | tapodhano! āp brahmatulya mahātmāoṃkā jo saṅga mujhe prāpta huā usse maiṃ samajhtā hūṃ ki yahāṃ apne liye abhīṣṭa gati mujhe prāpta ho gayī |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: “Wahai para pertapa kaya tapa! Karena aku berjumpa dan berada dalam pergaulan kalian—mahatma yang laksana Brahmā—aku menganggap bahwa di sini dan saat ini juga aku telah mencapai tujuan yang kuidamkan. Kebersamaan dengan jiwa-jiwa agung yang Brahma-sepadan itulah sekaligus jalan dan tujuan: menyucikan, meninggikan, dan meneguhkan kebaikan tertinggi.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates satsanga—association with spiritually accomplished ascetics—as itself a means and marker of attaining one’s highest good (gati). Ethical and inner transformation is portrayed as arising from reverent proximity to the wise.
Vaiśaṃpāyana addresses a group of ascetics, praising them as Brahman-like and declaring that meeting them fulfills his desired spiritual aim, emphasizing the sanctifying power of their company.