Shloka 203
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
काष्ठ भूतो55श्रमपदे वसति सम महातपा: । आश्रममें प्रवेश करते ही देवलमुनिने वहाँ बैठे हुए जैगीषव्यको देखा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kāṣṭha-bhūto 'śrama-pade vasati sama-mahātapāḥ.
Waiśampāyana berkata: Sang pertapa agung tinggal di tempat pertapaan itu seakan menjadi kayu—diam tak bergerak dan sepenuhnya terkendali. Ketika Devala memasuki āśrama dan melihat Jaigiṣavya duduk di sana, Jaigiṣavya tetap tidak berbicara sedikit pun. Resi besar itu duduk dalam mauna yang keras, hening laksana kayu.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true tapas expresses itself as deep restraint—silence, stillness, and equanimity. Ethical strength is shown by mastery over speech and reaction, not by outward display.
Devala enters the hermitage and sees the sage Jaigiṣavya seated there. Jaigiṣavya remains in kāṣṭha-like stillness and does not speak, maintaining a discipline of silence and self-possessed austerity.