Shloka 3
तमाश्रमे न्यस्तशस्त्र निवसन्तं तपोनिधिम् । देवा: शक्रपुरोगा वै राजानमुपतस्थिरे,एक समयकी बात है, राजा वसु अस्त्र-शस्त्रोंका त्याग करके आश्रममें निवास करने लगे। उन्होंने बड़ा भारी तप किया, जिससे वे तपोनिधि माने जाने लगे। उस समय इन्द्र आदि देवता यह सोचकर कि यह राजा तपसयाके द्वारा इन्द्रपद प्राप्त करना चाहता है, उनके समीप गये। देवताओंने राजाको प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन देकर उन्हें शान्तिपूर्वक समझाया और तपस्यासे निवृत्त कर दिया
tam āśrame nyastaśastra-nivasantaṃ taponidhim | devāḥ śakra-purogā vai rājānam upatasthire ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana said: In that hermitage, the king—having laid aside his weapons and living as an ascetic, a veritable treasure-house of austerity—was approached by the gods, led by Śakra (Indra). Sensing the moral tension between worldly power and spiritual striving, the gods came to dissuade him from pursuing sovereignty through tapas and to restore balance in the cosmic order.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) is powerful, but its ethical direction matters: when spiritual practice is aimed at worldly supremacy, it can disturb rightful order. The verse frames renunciation and self-control as virtues, while also warning that ambition can hide within asceticism.
The king has renounced weapons and is living in an āśrama performing intense austerities. The gods, led by Indra, come to him—implying concern that his tapas might challenge Indra’s position—and they approach to address and restrain his undertaking.