Shloka 3
Duḥṣantasya Vana-praveśaḥ
King Duḥṣanta’s Entry into the Forest Hunt
तमाश्रमे न्यस्तशस्त्र निवसन्तं तपोनिधिम् । देवा: शक्रपुरोगा वै राजानमुपतस्थिरे
tam āśrame nyastaśastra-nivasantaṃ taponidhim | devāḥ śakra-purogā vai rājānam upatasthire ||
Vaiśaṃpāyana berkata: Di pertapaan itu, sang raja—setelah meletakkan senjata dan tinggal sebagai pertapa, laksana khazanah tapa—didatangi para dewa, dipimpin oleh Śakra (Indra). Menyedari ketegangan antara kuasa duniawi dan usaha rohani, para dewa datang untuk menghalangnya daripada mengejar kedaulatan melalui tapas, demi memulihkan keseimbangan tatanan kosmos.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) is powerful, but its ethical direction matters: when spiritual practice is aimed at worldly supremacy, it can disturb rightful order. The verse frames renunciation and self-control as virtues, while also warning that ambition can hide within asceticism.
The king has renounced weapons and is living in an āśrama performing intense austerities. The gods, led by Indra, come to him—implying concern that his tapas might challenge Indra’s position—and they approach to address and restrain his undertaking.