Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
उक्तस्तैरस्मि गच्छ त्वं ब्रह्मतोकमिति प्रभो । प्रीतेनोक्तसहस््रेण ब्राह्मणानामहं प्रभो । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्तो मा भूत् ते5त्र विचारणा
uktas tair asmi gaccha tvaṁ brahmalokam iti prabho | prītenokta-sahasreṇa brāhmaṇānām ahaṁ prabho | imaṁ lokam anuprāpto mā bhūt te 'tra vicāraṇā ||
ಭಗೀರಥನು ಹೇಳಿದನು—ಪ್ರಭೋ! ಅವರು ನನಗೆ ‘ನೀನು ಬ್ರಹ್ಮಲೋಕಕ್ಕೆ ಹೋಗು’ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಸ್ವಾಮಿ! ಸಂತೋಷಗೊಂಡ ಆ ಸಾವಿರಾರು ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣರ ಕೃಪಾಪೂರ್ಣ ಆದೇಶ ಮತ್ತು ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದದಿಂದಲೇ ನಾನು ಈ ಲೋಕವನ್ನು ಪಡೆದಿದ್ದೇನೆ; ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ಈ ವಿಷಯದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸಂಶಯ ಇರಬಾರದು.
भगीरथ उवाच
The verse underscores the ethical authority of the righteous: when brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis are genuinely pleased by one’s conduct and rites, their blessing and instruction are treated as a trustworthy warrant for spiritual attainment. It also models humility—Bhagīratha asks the listener not to harbor suspicion, grounding his claim in the approval of the virtuous.
Bhagīratha explains that, after completing a certain undertaking, thousands of brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis arrived, were satisfied with him, and joyfully instructed him to go to Brahmaloka. He states that by their pleased blessing he has attained his present state/world, and he requests that no doubt be entertained about it.