Shloka 37
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
तब ब्रह्माजीने उन देवताओंसे कहा--“भृगुवंशी दधीचि ऋषि तपस्या करते हैं। उनके पास जाकर ऐसा वर माँगो, जिससे वे अपने शरीरको त्याग दें। फिर उन्हींकी हड्डियोंसे वज्र नामक अस्त्रका निर्माण करो! ।।
tato devās tatrāgacchan yatra dadhīco bhagavān ṛṣis tapaḥ tepe | sendrā devās taṃ tathābhigamya ūcuḥ—bhagavan tapaḥ sukuśalam abhinnaṃ ceti |
Kemudian para dewa pergi ke tempat Bhagavan resi Dadhīci dari garis Bhṛgu sedang bertapa. Dengan Indra di depan, mereka mendekat dan berkata dengan hormat: “Wahai Yang Mulia, apakah tapa Anda berlangsung baik dan tanpa gangguan? Adakah rintangan yang mengusik?”
तास्त्वाष्ट उवाच क्व गमिष्यथास्यतां तावन्मया सह श्रेयो भविष्यन्तीति
Educational Q&A
Even when pursuing urgent collective aims, one should approach the virtuous with reverence and protect the sanctity of their dharma (here, the continuity of tapas). The verse models ethical conduct: respectful inquiry precedes any request that may demand sacrifice.
Indra and the other gods go to the ascetic Dadhīci, who is performing austerities. They approach him and politely ask whether his penance is proceeding well and without disturbance—setting the stage for a later request connected with obtaining a powerful weapon.