Shloka 25
Omens and Consolation after Loss; Reaffirmation of the Saindhava Punishment Vow (उत्पात-दर्शनम्, आश्वासन-वाक्यानि, प्रतिज्ञा-स्थैर्यम्)
पु]नर्हिमवतो मूर्थ्नि यत्र देवा: पुरायजन् । तत्राड़ुगुछ्ेन सा तस्थौ निखर्व परमा शुभा,फिर हिमालयके शिखरपर जहाँ पहले देवताओंने यज्ञ किया था, वहाँ वह परम शुभलक्षणा कन्या एक निखर्व वर्षोतक अँगूठेके बलपर खड़ी रही
punar himavato mūrdhni yatra devāḥ purā yajñan | tatrāṅguṣṭhena sā tasthau nikharvaṁ paramā śubhā ||
Nārada said: “Then again, upon the summit of Himavat—where in ancient times the gods had performed sacrifice—she, the supremely auspicious maiden, stood there for a full nikharva of years balanced upon the strength of her thumb.”
नारद उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of tapas—steadfast self-discipline and endurance undertaken in a sacred context—suggesting that extraordinary resolve and purity of purpose are central to spiritual attainment and moral power.
Nārada describes a supremely auspicious maiden returning to the Himalayan summit where the gods once performed a sacrifice, and performing an extreme austerity by standing balanced on her thumb for an immense span of time (nikharva).