Shloka 20

Nāvyāśrama-nirmāṇa and Ṛśyaśṛṅga’s Distraction (नाव्याश्रमनिर्माणम्—ऋश्यशृङ्गस्य विचलनम्)

Devanagari script

ततो मुहूर्ताद्धरिपिड्जनलाक्ष: प्रवेष्टितो रोमभिरानखाग्रात्‌ । स्वाध्यायवान्‌ वृत्तसमाधियुक्तो विभाण्डक: काश्यप: प्रादुरासीत्‌,तदनन्तर दो घड़ीके बाद हरे-पीले नेत्रोंवाले काश्यपनन्दन विभाण्डक मुनि वहाँ आ पहुँचे। वे सिरसे लेकर पैरोंके नखोंतक रोमावलियोंसे भरे हुए थे। महात्मा विभाण्डक स्वाध्यायशील, सदाचारी तथा समाधिनिष्ठ महर्षि थे

Transliteration

tato muhūrtād dharipiṅgalalākṣaḥ praveṣṭito romabhir ānakhāgrāt | svādhyāyavān vṛttasamādhiyukto vibhāṇḍakaḥ kāśyapaḥ prādurāsīt ||

Translation

Then, after a short while, Vibhāṇḍaka—Kāśyapa’s son—appeared there, his eyes tawny-green. His body was covered with hair from head to the very tips of his nails. A great sage, he was devoted to Vedic self-study, steadfast in right conduct, and established in meditative absorption—his presence itself embodying disciplined ascetic virtue.

Word by Word

ततःthen, thereafter

मुहूर्तात्after a muhūrta (short time)

हरि-पिङ्ग-जन-लाक्षःhaving greenish-tawny eyes

प्रवेष्टितःwrapped/covered

रोमभिःwith hairs

आup to, as far as

नख-अग्रात्up to the tips of the nails

स्वाध्यायवान्possessing self-study (Vedic recitation)

वृत्त-समाधि-युक्तःendowed with good conduct and samādhi

विभाण्डकःVibhāṇḍaka (name)

काश्यपःKāśyapa (descendant of Kaśyapa)

प्रादुरासीत्appeared, became manifest

Speaker

लोगश उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vibhāṇḍaka

Kaśyapa

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse presents an ethical ideal of the ṛṣi: learning grounded in svādhyāya (disciplined study), character shaped by vṛtta (right conduct), and inner steadiness through samādhi. Knowledge, morality, and contemplation are shown as mutually reinforcing virtues.

What is happening in the narrative?

After a brief interval, the sage Vibhāṇḍaka—identified as Kāśyapa’s son—arrives on the scene. The narration emphasizes his striking appearance and, more importantly, his spiritual qualifications: devotion to Vedic study, impeccable conduct, and meditative absorption.