Shloka 17
अहिंसा-प्रधान धर्मविचारः
Ahiṃsā as the Superior Dharma: Practical and Scriptural Reasoning
वहाँ मृत्युदेवीने अत्यन्त दुष्कर और उत्तम तपस्या की। वह पंद्रह पद्म वर्षोतक एक पैरपर खड़ी रही ।। तां तथा कुर्वतीं तत्र तप: परमदुश्चरम् । पुनरेव महातेजा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
tāṁ tathā kurvatīṁ tatra tapaḥ paramaduścaram | punar eva mahātejā brahmā vacanam abravīt ||
Di sana, Dewi Maut menjalani tapa yang amat sukar dan luhur. Ia berdiri dengan sebelah kaki selama lima belas tahun. Ketika ia terus melakukan tapa yang sangat sukar itu, Brahmā yang bercahaya agung sekali lagi berkata-kata kepadanya.
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas—steadfast, difficult self-discipline—as a morally potent force that draws divine recognition. Ethical strength is shown not through power or violence but through sustained restraint and purposeful austerity.
A female figure (contextually Mṛtyudevī) is engaged in extremely difficult austerities. Observing her sustained tapas, the radiant Brahmā approaches again and speaks, signaling a turning point where the ascetic effort is acknowledged and a response (often guidance or a boon) is about to be given.