Shloka 1
Kalmāṣapāda’s Encounter with Śakti and the Escalation of the Vasiṣṭha–Viśvāmitra Feud (कल्माषपाद–शक्ति प्रसङ्गः)
अपन प्रा बछ। अं क्ाज पज्चषष्टर्याधेकशततमो< ध्याय: द्रोणके द्वारा द्रपदके अपमानित होनेका वृत्तान्त ब्राह्मण उवाच गड्जद्वारं प्रति महान् बभूवर्षिमहातपा: । भरद्वाजो महाप्राज्ञ: सततं संशितव्रतः,आगन्तुक ब्राह्मणने कहा--गंगाद्वारमें एक महाबुद्धिमान् और परम तपस्वी भरद्वाज नामक महर्षि रहते थे, जो सदा कठोर व्रतका पालन करते थे
brāhmaṇa uvāca | gaṅgādvāraṃ prati mahān babhūva ṛṣir mahātapāḥ | bharadvājo mahāprājñaḥ satataṃ saṃśitavrataḥ ||
The Brahmin said: Near Gaṅgādvāra there lived a great sage of mighty austerities—Bharadvāja, supremely wise, ever steadfast in his disciplined vows. The narrative foregrounds the ethical ideal of brahminical restraint and tapas as the foundation of spiritual authority, setting the stage for later tensions between ascetic merit and worldly honor.
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates tapas (austerity) and steadfast vows as the ethical basis of true authority: wisdom is portrayed as inseparable from disciplined conduct (vrata) and continual self-restraint.
A Brahmin narrator introduces the setting and a key figure—sage Bharadvāja living near Gaṅgādvāra—preparing the ground for the ensuing account connected with Droṇa and Drupada.