Shloka 24
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
एवं विगणयजन्नेव स मुनिर्मन्त्रपारग:,प्रजानाथ! ऐसा विचार करते हुए वे मन्त्रशास्त्रके पारंगत विद्वान् मुनि उस आश्रमसे आकाशकी ओर उड़ चले। उस समय भिक्षु जैगीषव्यकी परीक्षा लेनेके लिये उन्होंने ऐसा किया
evaṁ vigaṇayann eva sa munir mantrapāragaḥ | prajānātha! evaṁ vicārayamāṇaḥ sa mantrāśāstrapāraṅgato vidvān muniḥ tasmād āśramād ākāśaṁ prati uḍḍīya yayau | tadā bhikṣoḥ jaigīṣavyasya parīkṣāṁ kartuṁ sa evam akārayat |
Vaiśampāyana berkata: Sambil terus menimbang-nimbang dalam batinnya, sang resi yang mahir dalam mantra bangkit dari pertapaan itu dan terbang ke angkasa, wahai pelindung rakyat. Ia melakukan hal itu saat itu juga untuk menguji pengemis suci Jaigīṣavya—menjadikan keteguhan tekadnya sebagai ujian.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Spiritual attainment and learning (mantra-mastery) are shown alongside ethical discernment: a true ascetic’s steadiness is proved not by claims but by tests of composure, detachment, and integrity under unexpected trials.
The narrator reports that a mantra-adept sage, after deliberation, leaves the hermitage by flying into the sky. The stated purpose is to test the mendicant Jaigīṣavya—setting up an episode where the bhikṣu’s qualities will be examined.