Shloka 24
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
अष्ट भ्यो राजसूयेभ्यो न च तेनाहमागत: । पितामह! यज्ञ और पराक्रममें जो इन्द्रके समान प्रभावशाली थे
Bhagīratha uvāca— Aṣṭabhyo rājasūyebhyo na ca tenāham āgataḥ | Pitāmaha! yajne parākrame ca yo ’ndrasama-prabhāvāḥ, suvarṇa-hāra-śobhitakaṇṭhāḥ, tādṛśān sahasraśo rājñaḥ yuddhe jitvā pracura-dhanena aṣṭau rājasūya-yajñān kṛtvā tad dhanaṃ brāhmaṇebhyo dakṣiṇāyāṃ dattavān; parantu tena puṇyenāpi nāham asmin loke āgataḥ ||
バギーラタは言った。「たとえ王祀ラージャスーヤ（Rājasūya）を八度行っても、われは求める境地に到らなかった。おお、祖父なる御方（ピターマハ）よ。祭祀と武勇においてインドラのごとく威光を放ち、黄金の花環を頸に飾る幾千の王たちを戦で征し、われは莫大な財を集めて八度のラージャスーヤを修し、その財を婆羅門たちにダクシナー（dakṣiṇā）として施した。されど、その功徳をもってしても、この世においてなお満足を得られぬのだ。」
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ritual grandeur, conquest, and even massive charitable giving can still fall short of deeper spiritual fulfillment; the passage highlights the limits of external merit (puṇya) when the sought goal requires a higher or different kind of realization.
Bhagīratha addresses the ‘Grandfather’ and recounts his extraordinary achievements—defeating many kings, performing eight Rājasūya sacrifices, and distributing wealth as priestly fees—yet confesses that these acts have not brought him the attainment he desires, prompting further instruction on dharma.