Shloka 58
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
तत्राश्रमपद्द दिव्यं ददर्श भगवानथ,वहाँ भगवान् अष्टावक्रने एक दिव्य आश्रम देखा। उस आश्रमके चारों ओर नाना प्रकारके सुवर्णमय एवं रत्नभूषित पर्वत शोभा पा रहे थे। वहाँकी मणिमयी भूमिपर कई सुन्दर बावड़ियाँ बनी थीं
tatrāśramapadaṁ divyaṁ dadarśa bhagavān atha |
Bhishma berkata: Kemudian sang resi yang mulia melihat suatu tapak pertapaan yang menakjubkan. Di sekeliling ashram itu menjulang banyak gunung yang berkilau laksana emas dan dihiasi permata; di atas tanah yang seakan-akan bermani, terbina banyak telaga bertangga yang indah. Pemandangan itu menegaskan kesucian dan kemakmuran yang mengiringi kediaman rohani yang teguh dalam dharma—di mana alam dan kekayaan tampak selaras di bawah dharma, bukan dirampas melalui kekerasan.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how a dharmic, spiritually potent place is portrayed as naturally auspicious—beauty, order, and even wealth (gold, gems, well-water) appear as offerings to righteousness rather than as objects of conquest. It frames prosperity as legitimate when it supports sanctity and restraint.
In Bhishma’s narration, the sage (identified in the accompanying gloss as Ashtavakra) arrives at a location and beholds a marvelous hermitage-site, described with jewel-like terrain, golden and gem-adorned mountains, and many beautiful stepwells.