Shloka 17
पञ्चाप्सरो-सरः कथनम् तथा अगस्त्याश्रममार्गनिर्देशः
Panchapsara Lake Account and Directions to Agastya
ताश्चैवाप्सरसः पञ्च मुनेः पत्नीत्वमागताः।।।।तटाके निर्मितं तासामस्मिन्नन्तर्हितं गृहम्।
tāś caivāpsarasaḥ pañca muneḥ patnītvam āgatāḥ |
taṭāke nirmitaṃ tāsām asminn antarhitaṃ gṛham ||
ആ അഞ്ചു അപ്സരസ്സുകളും മുനിയുടെ ഭാര്യാപദം പ്രാപിച്ചു. ആ തടാകത്തിൽ അവർക്കായി നിർമ്മിച്ച ഒരു ഗൃഹം ഇവിടെ ദൃഷ്ടിയിൽ നിന്ന് അന്തർഹിതമായി (മറഞ്ഞ്) നിലകൊണ്ടിരുന്നു.
The five apsaras, got the status of wives to the sage who built them an invisible home inside the lake.
FAQs
The verse highlights a fall from ascetic dharma into domestic attachment under temptation, reminding that life-stages (āśramas) demand integrity and clarity of purpose.
After the sage is overcome, the apsarases become his wives and a concealed residence is established in a lake.
The implied virtue is steadfastness to one’s vow (vrata) and chosen discipline; the episode shows its erosion through indulgence.