Shloka 16
उन्हें इस प्रकार जाते देख समस्त गन्धर्व, अप्सराओंके समुदाय तथा सिद्ध ऋषि-मुनि महान् आश्चर्यमें पड़ गये ।।
śuka uvāca |
teṣāṁ tathā gacchatāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve gandharvā apsarasāṁ gaṇaś ca siddhā ṛṣayaś ca mahad āścaryam āpannāḥ | antarīkṣagataḥ ko ’yaṁ tapasā siddhim āgataḥ | adhaḥkāyo ’rdhva-vaktraś ca netraiḥ samabhirajyate iti parasparaṁ ūcuḥ ||
Śuka berkata: Melihat dia melaju dengan cara yang begitu luar biasa, semua Gandharwa, rombongan Apsara, dan para resi yang telah sempurna (siddha) tercengang oleh keheranan besar. Mereka saling berkata, “Siapakah mahātmā ini, yang meraih kesempurnaan lewat tapa dan bergerak menembus langit—wajahnya menghadap ke atas sementara bagian bawah tubuhnya mengarah ke bawah? Mata kami seakan tak kuasa lepas darinya.”
शुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compelling power of tapas (austerity) and spiritual accomplishment (siddhi): genuine inner attainment can command reverence even among celestial beings, reminding the listener that ethical self-discipline and ascetic practice are recognized as sources of extraordinary capability and authority.
Śuka narrates that Gandharvas, Apsarases, and perfected sages see an extraordinary ascetic moving through the sky in an unusual posture (face upward, lower body downward). Astonished, they question among themselves who this great soul is and note that their gaze is involuntarily drawn to him.