Shloka 26
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
पश्य भद्ठे यथा भावाश्षित्रा दृष्टा: सुदुर्लभा: । प्रसादाद् भगुमुख्यस्य किमन्यत्र तपोबलात्
paśya bhadre yathā bhāvāś citrā dṛṣṭāḥ sudurlabhāḥ | prasādād bhṛgumukhyasya kim anyatra tapobalāt ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai wanita mulia, lihatlah—betapa manifestasi yang menakjubkan dan amat jarang ini telah kita saksikan. Dari manakah penglihatan sebegini dapat muncul, jika bukan daripada limpah kurnia yang utama dalam keturunan Bhṛgu? Apakah lagi yang dapat mengurniakannya selain kekuatan yang lahir daripada tapa?”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Extraordinary spiritual experiences are not random; they are attributed to the combined force of tapas (disciplined austerity) and the prasāda (grace) of a realized sage. The verse highlights that rare attainments arise from inner discipline supported by higher blessing.
Bhīṣma addresses a woman respectfully (“bhadre”) and points to some marvelous, rare phenomena that have been witnessed. He explains their cause as the favor of an eminent Bhṛgu-sage, implying that such events are possible only through ascetic power and spiritual merit.