Shloka 42
Arjuna’s Mantra-Empowerment and the Pāṇḍavas’ Separation (Śiva-rūpa through Mantra)
ब्राह्मण उवाच । नवे वयसि वै तात किन्तपस्यसि साम्प्रतम् । मुक्त्यर्थं वा जयार्थं किं सर्वथैतत्तपस्तव
brāhmaṇa uvāca | nave vayasi vai tāta kintapasyasi sāmpratam | muktyarthaṃ vā jayārthaṃ kiṃ sarvathaitattapastava
ព្រះព្រាហ្មណ៍បានមានពាក្យថា៖ «កូនជាទីស្រឡាញ់អើយ អ្នកនៅវ័យក្មេងស្រស់ស្រាយ—ហេតុអ្វីបានជាអ្នកធ្វើតបស្យា (ការប្រាថ្នាអធិស្ឋានអត់ធ្មត់) នៅពេលនេះ? តើតបស្យានេះធ្វើដើម្បីមោក្ខ (ការលោះលែង) ឬដើម្បីជ័យជំនះ និងផលលោកិយ? តាមពិត តបស្យារបស់អ្នកមានគោលបំណងអ្វី?»
A Brāhmaṇa (sage/priest encountered in the narrative)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It distinguishes the intention behind austerity—whether aimed at moksha or at worldly success—implying that tapas becomes spiritually fruitful when oriented toward Shiva-realization and liberation rather than mere conquest or gain.
By questioning the goal of tapas, the verse implicitly points to Saguna Shiva worship (Linga-upasana) as a disciplined path where intention matters: devotion and surrender for purification and grace lead toward moksha, not simply ritual power for victory.
The verse suggests examining one’s sankalpa (spiritual resolve) before practice; in Shaiva contexts this is commonly expressed through steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and disciplined tapas performed with the aim of purification and liberation.