Shloka 32
बक-गौतमाख्यानम् / The Baka–Gautama Account
On Gratitude and Friendship Ethics
तदा हिमवत: शड्रे सुरम्ये पद्मतारके । शतयोजनविस्तारे मणिरत्नचयाचिते
tadā himavataḥ śṛṅge suramye padmatārake | śatayojanavistāre maṇiratnacayācite ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Ketika itu, di sebuah puncak indah di Himavat, begitu tinggi sehingga bintang-bintang di langit tampak seperti teratai yang sedang mekar di atasnya, terserlah sebuah puncak yang terbentang seratus yojana, bertatah dan bertimbun permata serta batu mulia. Dalam suasana itu, Brahmā—bersama para Brahmarṣi—tiba, menandai campur tangan kosmik yang khidmat di tengah keangkuhan dan keterasingan para penguasa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames a moral contrast: worldly pride and refusal to engage respectfully are set against the higher, stabilizing presence of Brahmā and the brahmarṣis. The imagery suggests that dharma is upheld not by arrogance but by alignment with cosmic order and reverence for wise counsel.
Bhishma describes a majestic Himalayan summit—vast, star-lotus-like, and gem-studded—where Brahmā arrives together with the brahmarṣis. The scene prepares for a significant divine or sage-led intervention in the unfolding account.