Shloka 47
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
अथ प्रवृत्ते गान्धर्वे दिव्ये ऋषिरुपाविशत् । दिव्यं संवत्सरं तत्रारमतैष महातपा:,वह दिव्य नृत्य-गीत आरम्भ होनेपर महातपस्वी ऋषि अष्टावक्र भी दर्शक-मण्डलीमें आ बैठे और वे देवताओंके वर्षसे एक वर्षतक इसी आमोद-प्रमोदमें रमते रहे
atha pravṛtte gāndharve divye ṛṣir upāviśat | divyaṃ saṃvatsaraṃ tatrāramata eṣa mahātapāḥ ||
Bhishma berkata: “Apabila persembahan Gandharva yang bersifat samawi itu bermula, sang resi pun mengambil tempat duduk dalam kalangan para penonton. Pertapa agung itu bersuka ria di sana selama genap setahun menurut hitungan para dewa, tenggelam dalam muzik dan tarian surgawi—menunjukkan bahawa bahkan seorang pelihat yang berdisiplin dapat, tanpa keterikatan, menikmati kegembiraan yang halus apabila ia tertib dan membawa tuah.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse suggests that disciplined life is not merely rejection of all pleasure; when enjoyment is orderly, elevated, and free from grasping, even a great ascetic may participate without compromising dharma.
As a divine Gandharva performance begins, a sage sits with the audience and remains there, delighting in the celestial music and dance for the duration of a divine year.