Shloka 35
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
पयस्विनीनामथ रोहिणीनां तथैवान्याननडुहो लोकनाथ । प्रादां नित्य॑ ब्राह्मुणे भ्य: सुरेश नेहागतस्तेन फलेन चाहम्
payasvinīnām atha rohiṇīnām tathaivānyān anaḍuho lokanātha | prādāṁ nityaṁ brāhmaṇebhyaḥ sureśa nehāgataḥ tena phalena cāham |
Bhagīratha berkata: “Wahai Tuhan alam, wahai raja para dewa, setiap hari aku biasa mengurniakan kepada para Brahmana lembu-lembu perah, lembu kemerahan (rohiṇī), dan juga lembu jantan yang lain. Namun aku tidak mencapai keadaan ini di sini hanya dengan buah pemberian itu semata-mata.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even substantial daily charity (such as gifting cows and bulls to Brāhmaṇas) does not automatically explain one’s spiritual attainment; merit is nuanced, and higher results may depend on intention, purity, and other dharmic factors beyond the mere act of giving.
Bhagīratha addresses Indra, recounting his regular gifts of cattle to Brāhmaṇas, and clarifies that his present state has not been reached solely through the fruit of those donations—setting up a discussion on what truly produces higher merit.