Shloka 7
Adhyaya 74 — King Svarashtra, the Deer-Queen’s Curse, and the Rise of Tamasa Manu
ग्रीष्मे पञ्चतमा भूत्वा वर्षास्वभ्रावकाशिकः ।
जलशायी च शिशिरे निराहारो यतव्रतः ॥
grīṣme pañcatamā bhūtvā varṣāsv abhrāvakāśikaḥ / jalaśāyī ca śiśire nirāhāro yatavrataḥ
ಬೇಸಿಗೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಅವನು ‘ಪಂಚಾಗ್ನಿ’ ತಪಸ್ಸು ಮಾಡಿದನು; ಮಳೆಯ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ತೆರೆದ ಆಕಾಶದ ಕೆಳಗೆ ಇದ್ದನು; ಚಳಿಗಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಮಲಗಿದ್ದನು. ಅವನು ಉಪವಾಸಿ, ವ್ರತಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ದೃಢನಾಗಿದ್ದನು।
FAQs
Tapas is portrayed as consistency across changing conditions—heat, rain, cold—showing that inner resolve should not depend on comfort. The king’s discipline contrasts with the instability of political fortune.
Vaṃśānucarita (life of a king) incorporating āśrama-dharma elements (movement toward vānaprastha/saṃnyāsa ideals).
The three seasonal practices symbolize mastery over the guṇas and bodily impulses: heat (rajas), damp darkness (tamas), cold inertia (tamas). Fasting and vows indicate prāṇa-sublimation toward spiritual potency.