Shloka 16
पितृयज्ञे नारायणतत्त्वम् — The Nārāyaṇa Grounding of Ancestral Offerings
उन्हें इस प्रकार जाते देख समस्त गन्धर्व, अप्सराओंके समुदाय तथा सिद्ध ऋषि-मुनि महान् आश्चर्यमें पड़ गये ।।
śuka uvāca |
teṣāṁ tathā gacchatāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve gandharvā apsarasāṁ gaṇaś ca siddhā ṛṣayaś ca mahad āścaryam āpannāḥ | antarīkṣagataḥ ko ’yaṁ tapasā siddhim āgataḥ | adhaḥkāyo ’rdhva-vaktraś ca netraiḥ samabhirajyate iti parasparaṁ ūcuḥ ||
シュカは語った。彼がそのように並外れたありさまで進むのを見て、すべてのガンダルヴァ、アプサラスの群れ、そして成就した聖仙たちは大いなる驚嘆に打たれた。彼らは互いに言い交わした。「苦行によって成就を得て、虚空を行くこの高貴なる者は誰か。顔は上方に向き、しかも身体の下部は下方へと垂れている。われらの眼は抗いがたく彼へ引き寄せられる。」
शुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compelling power of tapas (austerity) and spiritual accomplishment (siddhi): genuine inner attainment can command reverence even among celestial beings, reminding the listener that ethical self-discipline and ascetic practice are recognized as sources of extraordinary capability and authority.
Śuka narrates that Gandharvas, Apsarases, and perfected sages see an extraordinary ascetic moving through the sky in an unusual posture (face upward, lower body downward). Astonished, they question among themselves who this great soul is and note that their gaze is involuntarily drawn to him.