Shloka 39

Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity

Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda

Devanagari script

इन्द्रेण गुह्मां निहितं वै गुहायां यद्धार्गवस्तपसेहा भ्यविन्दत्‌ । जाज्वल्यमानमुशनस्तेजसेह तत्साधयामासमहं वरेण्य

Transliteration

bhagīratha uvāca |

indreṇa guhyāṁ nihitaṁ vai guhāyāṁ yad bhārgavas tapasehābhyavindat |

jājvalyamānam uśanas tejaseha tat sādhayām āsa mahāṁ vareṇya ||

Translation

ಭಗೀರಥನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—“ಇಂದ್ರನು ಗುಪ್ತವಾಗಿ ಒಂದು ಗುಹೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅಡಗಿಟ್ಟಿದ್ದ ಆ ರಹಸ್ಯವನ್ನು, ಭಾರ್ಗವನು ಇಲ್ಲಿ ತಪಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದನು; ಉಶನಸ್ (ಶುಕ್ರ)ನ ತೇಜಸ್ಸಿನಿಂದ ಜ್ವಲಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದ ಆ ದೀಪ್ತ ಶಕ್ತಿಯನ್ನು—ಹೇ ವರೆಣ್ಯ! ನಾನೂ ಸಾಧಿಸಿ ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ।”

Word by Word

• इन्द्रेण: by Indra
• इन्द्रेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• गुह्यम्: a secret (thing)
• गुह्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुह्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• निहितम्: placed/hidden
• निहितम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-धा
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Past passive participle (क्त)

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• गुहायाम्: in a cave
• गुहायाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुहा
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• यत्: which
• यत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: यद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• भार्गवः: Bhārgava (descendant of Bhṛgu)
• भार्गवः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्गव
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तपसा: by austerity
• तपसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• अभ्यविन्दत्: found/obtained
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-विद्
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• जाज्वल्यमानम्: blazing, shining
• जाज्वल्यमानम्: Karma
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular, Present participle passive/ātmanepada sense (शानच्), reduplicated intensive form

• उशनः: Uśanas (Śukra)
• उशनः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तेजसा: by (his) brilliance/power
• तेजसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• इह: here
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह

• तत्: that
• तत्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• साधयामास: accomplished/achieved
• Type: Verb
• Root: साध्
• Form: Perfect periphrastic (लिट्, periphrastic), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: अस्मद्
• Form: Nominative, Singular

• वरेण्यम्: most excellent/choice-worthy
• वरेण्यम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वरेण्य
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

Speaker

भगीरथ उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhagīratha
• Indra
• Bhārgava
• Uśanas (Śukra)
• guhā (cave)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Extraordinary attainments are not merely seized by force or chance; they are secured through tapas (disciplined austerity) and inner tejas (spiritual potency). Even what is hidden by the gods can be reached by sustained merit and right effort.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhagīratha recounts a tradition of a powerful, radiant object or attainment: Indra concealed it in a secret cave; a Bhārgava sage obtained it through austerity; and Bhagīratha declares that he too managed to accomplish/obtain that blazing, Śukra-associated power.