Shloka 20
Nāvyāśrama-nirmāṇa and Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s Distraction (नाव्याश्रमनिर्माणम्—ऋश्यशृङ्गस्य विचलनम्)
ततो मुहूर्ताद्धरिपिड्जनलाक्ष: प्रवेष्टितो रोमभिरानखाग्रात् । स्वाध्यायवान् वृत्तसमाधियुक्तो विभाण्डक: काश्यप: प्रादुरासीत्,तदनन्तर दो घड़ीके बाद हरे-पीले नेत्रोंवाले काश्यपनन्दन विभाण्डक मुनि वहाँ आ पहुँचे। वे सिरसे लेकर पैरोंके नखोंतक रोमावलियोंसे भरे हुए थे। महात्मा विभाण्डक स्वाध्यायशील, सदाचारी तथा समाधिनिष्ठ महर्षि थे
tato muhūrtād dharipiṅgalalākṣaḥ praveṣṭito romabhir ānakhāgrāt | svādhyāyavān vṛttasamādhiyukto vibhāṇḍakaḥ kāśyapaḥ prādurāsīt ||
Kemudian, setelah sejenak, tampaklah Vibhāṇḍaka putra Kāśyapa, bermata hijau-kekuningan. Tubuhnya diselimuti rambut dari kepala hingga ujung kuku. Seorang resi agung, ia tekun dalam swādhyāya, teguh dalam laku benar, dan mantap dalam samādhi.
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents an ethical ideal of the ṛṣi: learning grounded in svādhyāya (disciplined study), character shaped by vṛtta (right conduct), and inner steadiness through samādhi. Knowledge, morality, and contemplation are shown as mutually reinforcing virtues.
After a brief interval, the sage Vibhāṇḍaka—identified as Kāśyapa’s son—arrives on the scene. The narration emphasizes his striking appearance and, more importantly, his spiritual qualifications: devotion to Vedic study, impeccable conduct, and meditative absorption.