Shloka 30
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
उष्णार्तश्न क्षुधार्तश्न विप्रस्तपसि संस्थित:,क्षपयामास तं काल कृच्छ॒प्राणो द्विजोत्तम: । तपस्यामें लगे हुए वे ब्राह्मणदेवता गर्मी और भूख दोनोंसे कष्ट पा रहे थे। भूख और परिश्रमसे पीड़ित होनेपर भी वे उज्छ न पा सके। उन्हें अन्नका एक दाना भी नहीं मिला; अतः परिवारके सभी लोगोंके साथ उसी तरह भूखसे पीड़ित रहकर ही उन्होंने वह समय काटा। वे श्रेष्ठ ब्राह्मण बड़े कष्टसे अपने प्राणोंकी रक्षा करते थे
Nakula uvāca: uṣṇārtaś ca kṣudhārtaś ca vipras tapasi saṁsthitaḥ, kṣapayāmāsa taṁ kālaṁ kṛcchra-prāṇo dvijottamaḥ.
Nakula said: The excellent Brahmin, established in austerity, was afflicted both by heat and by hunger. With his life sustained only with great difficulty, he endured and wore away that span of time—remaining steadfast in his vow despite deprivation, and bearing suffering without abandoning his discipline.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfastness in dharma and tapas is shown through endurance: even under severe heat and hunger, the ascetic does not abandon discipline, illustrating ethical resilience and commitment to a chosen vow.
Nakula describes a Brahmin engaged in austerities who suffers intense heat and hunger yet continues his penance, barely sustaining life while passing the time through hardship without giving up.