Shloka 39
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
वर्तितं भूगुशार्दूल यन्न दग्धो5स्मि तद् बहु । एष एव वरो मुख्य: प्राप्तो मे भूगुनन्दन
vartitaṁ bhṛguśārdūla yan na dagdho ’smi tad bahu | eṣa eva varo mukhyaḥ prāpto me bhṛgunandana ||
ಕುಶಿಕನು ಹೇಳಿದನು— ಹೇ ಭೃಗುಶಾರ್ದೂಲ, ಈ ಪರೀಕ್ಷೆಯನ್ನು ದಾಟಿಯೂ ನಾನು ದಗ್ಧನಾಗಲಿಲ್ಲ— ಇದೇ ನನಗೆ ಮಹಾ ವರ. ಹೇ ಭೃಗುನಂದನ, ಇದೇ ನನಗೆ ದೊರೆತ ಪ್ರಧಾನ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ।
कुशिक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights that moral integrity and inner purity are themselves the highest reward: surviving an ordeal unscathed is valued not merely as a miracle, but as confirmation of righteousness, making that confirmation the ‘foremost boon.’
Kuśika addresses a Bhṛgu-descended sage, stating that he has undergone a severe test (implied to involve fire) and was not burned; he interprets this outcome as the greatest blessing he could receive.