Shloka 24
कपिलगोसंवादे गृहस्थ-त्यागधर्मयोः प्रमाण्यविचारः
Kapila–Cow Dialogue: Authority of Householder and Renunciant Dharmas
तत्रापातयतां राजन शिरस्यण्डानि खेचरौ । तान्यबुध्यत तेजस्वी स विप्र: संशितव्रत:
tatrāpātayatāṃ rājan śirasy aṇḍāni khecarau | tāny abudhyata tejasvī sa vipraḥ saṃśitavrataḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Di sana, wahai Raja, kedua burung penghuni angkasa itu menjatuhkan telur-telurnya di atas kepalanya. Namun brahmana yang bercahaya itu, teguh dalam laku tapa dan sumpahnya, tidak menyadarinya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the intensity of disciplined vow and inward absorption: a truly steadfast ascetic may remain so focused on tapas and restraint that ordinary bodily disturbances go unnoticed—an implicit lesson on non-attachment and steadiness.
In Bhishma’s account to the king, two birds drop eggs onto a brahmin’s head. The brahmin, described as radiant and strict in vows, remains unaware of the eggs, setting up a larger episode about the consequences and tests surrounding ascetic life and dharma.