Shloka 59
Atithi-satkāra and the Consolation of Wise Counsel (अतिथिसत्कारः प्रज्ञानवचनस्य च पराश्वासनम्)
स्थूलशिरा महर्षिमिरो: प्रागुत्तरे दिग्विभागे तपस्तेपे ततस्तस्य तपस्तप्यमानस्य सर्वगन्धवह: शुचिर्वायुर्वायमान: शरीरमस्पृशत्ू स तपसा तापित-शरीर: कृशो वायुनोपवीज्यमानो हृदये परितोषमगमत् तत्र किल तस्यानिलव्यजनकृतपरितोषस्य सद्यो वनस्पतयः पुष्पशोभां निदर्शितवन्त इति स एतान् शशाप न सर्वकालं पुष्पवन्तो भविष्यथेति,पूर्वकालकी बात है, मेरुपर्वतके पूर्वोत्तर भागमें स्थूलशिरा नामक महर्षि बड़ी भारी तपस्या कर रहे थे। उनके तपस्या करते समय सब प्रकार सुगन्ध लिये पवित्र वायु बहने लगी। उस वायुने प्रवाहित होकर मुनिके शरीरका स्पर्श किया। तपस्यासे संतप्त शरीरवाले उन कृशकाय मुनिने उस वायुसे वीजित हो अपने हृदयमें बड़े संतोषका अनुभव किया। वायुके द्वारा व्यजन डुलानेसे संतुष्ट हुए मुनिके समक्ष वृक्षोंने तत्काल फूलकी शोभा दिखलायी। इससे रुष्ट होकर मुनिने उन्हें शाप दिया कि तुम हर समय फूलोंसे भरे-पूरे नहीं रहोगे
pūrvakālakī bāta hai, meruparvatasya prāguttare digbhāge sthūlaśirā nāma maharṣiḥ mahāntam tapaḥ tepe. tataḥ tasya tapaḥ tapyamānasya sarvagandhavahaḥ śucir vāyuḥ vāyamānaḥ śarīram aspṛśat. sa tapasā tāpitaśarīraḥ kṛśo vāyunopavījyamāno hṛdaye paritoṣam agamat. tatra kila tasya anilavyajanakṛtaparitoṣasya sadyo vanaspatayaḥ puṣpaśobhāṃ nidarśitavanta iti. sa etān śaśāpa—na sarvakālaṃ puṣpavanto bhaviṣyathe iti.
In ancient times, on the north‑eastern side of Mount Meru, a great sage named Sthūlaśiras was performing severe austerities. As his penance intensified, a pure breeze, bearing every kind of fragrance, began to blow and touched his body. The sage—thin from ascetic heat—was fanned by that wind and felt deep contentment in his heart. Seeing his satisfaction produced by the wind’s gentle fanning, the trees there at once displayed a splendour of blossoms. But the sage, provoked by this untimely display, cursed them: “You shall not remain in flower at all times.” The episode frames how even a momentary disturbance or indulgence around ascetic practice can lead to consequences, and how a sage’s words, when driven by irritation rather than restraint, can reshape the natural order.
तामिन्द्र उवाच गच्छ नहुषस्त्वया वाच्योथ<पूर्वेण मामृषियुक्तेन यानेन त्वमधिरूढ
Educational Q&A
The passage highlights the power and responsibility of speech, especially for ascetics: a moment of irritation can turn a small disturbance into a lasting consequence. It also suggests that nature’s rhythms (like seasonal flowering) can be explained through moral-causal narratives where restraint and temper govern outcomes.
Sage Sthūlaśiras performs intense austerities near Mount Meru. A pure, fragrant wind touches and cools him, giving him contentment. Trees immediately bloom in response to his pleased state, but he becomes annoyed and curses them so they will not remain perpetually in flower.