Shloka 6
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ८३: ययाति-इन्द्र-संवादः तथा अष्टक-प्रश्नः
Yayāti–Indra Dialogue and Aṣṭaka’s Inquiry
शर्मिष्शोवाच तपसा तेजसा चैव दीप्यमानं यथा रविम् | त॑ दृष्टवा मम सम्प्रष्टं शक्तिनासीच्छुचिस्मिते,शर्मिष्ठा बोली--शुचिस्मिते! वे अपने तप और तेजसे सूर्यकी भाँति प्रकाशित हो रहे थे। उन्हें देखकर मुझे कुछ पूछनेका साहस ही नहीं हुआ
Śarmiṣṭhovāca tapasā tejasā caiva dīpyamānaṃ yathā ravim | taṃ dṛṣṭvā mama sampraṣṭuṃ śaktir nāsīc chucismite ||
Śarmiṣṭhā said: “O fair-smiling one, he was blazing with austerity and spiritual radiance like the sun. Seeing him, I did not have the courage or capacity to question him.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of reverence: genuine tapas and tejas command respect, and humility restrains impulsive questioning before spiritual authority.
Śarmiṣṭhā describes encountering someone blazing with ascetic power like the sun; overwhelmed by that radiance, she feels unable to ask her intended question.