Shloka 7
नियोगप्रसङ्गः — The Niyoga Episode: Births of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Pāṇḍu, and Vidura
स वारुणिस्तपस्तेपे तस्मिन् भरतसत्तम | वने पुण्यकृतां श्रेष्ठ: स्वादुमूलफलोदके
sa vāruṇis tapaḥ tepe tasmin bharatasattama | vane puṇyakṛtāṃ śreṣṭhaḥ svādu-mūla-phalodake ||
Wahai yang terbaik dalam keturunan Bharata, di rimba itu—yang kaya dengan akar, buah-buahan manis dan air—Vāruṇi, yang terunggul antara orang-orang berbakti, menjalani tapa.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas grounded in simplicity: the virtuous undertake disciplined practice in a pure, minimally sufficient environment (roots, fruits, water), suggesting ethical restraint and non-exploitative living as supports for spiritual progress.
Vaiśampāyana describes Vāruṇi residing in a forest that naturally provides basic sustenance and performing austerities there, establishing the ascetic setting and the character’s merit and spiritual focus.