Shloka 6
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
तस्यातितपस: शक्रो बिभेति सततं विभो । न स लोभयितुं शक््य: फलैर्बहुविधैरपि,प्रभो! उनकी भारी तपस्यासे इन्द्र सदा डरते रहते थे। नाना प्रकारके फलोंका प्रलोभन देनेपर भी उन्हें लुभाया नहीं जा सकता था
tasyātitapasaḥ śakro bibheti satataṃ vibho | na sa lobhayituṃ śakyaḥ phalair bahuvidhair api |
Vaiśampāyana said: Because of his extraordinary austerities, Indra (Śakra) remained continually afraid. That ascetic could not be enticed or swayed—even by offering many kinds of rewards—showing how steadfast self-control and tapas can stand beyond worldly inducements.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
True tapas implies unwavering discipline: one who is firmly established in austerity and self-restraint is not easily diverted by attractive ‘fruits’ (rewards), even when offered by powerful forces.
The narrator states that Indra is continually apprehensive of a certain ascetic’s intense austerities and that attempts to lure him with various rewards (phalāni) fail, emphasizing the ascetic’s steadfastness.