Shloka 57
Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
गोचारिणो<5थाश्मकुट्टा दन्तोलूखलिकास्तथा । मरीचिपा: फेनपाश्चव तथैव मृगचारिण:
gocāriṇo ’tha aśmakuṭṭā dantolūkhalikās tathā | marīcipāḥ phenapāś ca tathaiva mṛgacāriṇaḥ ||
ວາສຸເທວະກ່າວວ່າ: «ບາງຄົນຮັບປະຕິຍານບຳເນັດຮັບໃຊ້ງົວ ແລະຢູ່ອາໄສພ້ອມທັງທ່ອງທ່ຽວກັບຝູງງົວ. ບາງຄົນກິນອາຫານທີ່ບົດດ້ວຍຫີນ; ບາງຄົນກະທັ້ງໃຊ້ແຂ້ວເປັນຄົກແລະສາກ. ບາງຄົນດຳລົງຊີວິດໂດຍດື່ມແສງຕາເວັນ ແລະຟອງນ້ຳ; ແລະອີກຫຼາຍລະສີຮັບປະຕິຍານດຳລົງດັ່ງກວາງ ທ່ອງທ່ຽວຢູ່ກັບຝູງກວາງ.»
वासुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the diversity and extremity of ascetic vows—living with cows, subsisting on minimally processed food, or even on rays and foam—underscoring ideals of self-control, simplicity, and disciplined restraint as recognized forms of dharmic practice.
Vāsudeva is describing various groups of sages/ascetics and the distinctive vows they follow, illustrating different modes of austere living and how some renunciants model their lifestyle on animals (cows or deer) or on highly reduced forms of sustenance.