Shloka 8
विश्वामित्रस्य दक्षिणतपः तथा त्रिशङ्कोः स्वशरीरेण स्वर्गगमनाभिलाषः
Visvamitra’s Southern Austerity and Trisanku’s Bodily Ascent Aspiration
तपश्च सुमहत्तप्तं राजर्षिरिति मां विदु:।देवास्सर्षिगणास्सर्वे नास्ति मन्ये तप:फलम्।।1.57.8।।
tapaś ca sumahat taptaṃ rājarṣir iti māṃ viduḥ |
devāḥ sarṣigaṇāḥ sarve nāsti manye tapaḥ-phalam ||1.57.8||
‘ನಾನು ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಮಹತ್ತಾದ ತಪಸ್ಸನ್ನು ಆಚರಿಸಿದ್ದೇನೆ; ಆದರೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ದೇವತೆಗಳೂ ಋಷಿಗಣಗಳೂ ನನ್ನನ್ನು ಕೇವಲ “ರಾಜರ್ಷಿ” ಎಂದೇ ತಿಳಿಯುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನನ್ನ ತಪಸ್ಸಿಗೆ ಫಲವೇ ಇಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ನನಗೆ ತೋರುತ್ತದೆ.’
"I have performed intense austerities. Yet rishis and devatas have recognised me only as a rajarshi. I think my penance has yielded fruit.
FAQs
Dharma warns against measuring righteousness only by external validation; true spiritual fruit is inner transformation, not merely titles granted by others.
Viśvāmitra laments that despite intense tapas, he is still addressed as a rājarṣi, setting up his decision to pursue even greater austerity.
Perseverance—though mixed with wounded pride—showing an unyielding will to reach a higher spiritual ideal.