Shloka 17
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
वाह्लीक देशमें उत्पन्न हुए श्वेतरंगके एक लाख घोड़ोंको सोनेकी मालाओंसे सजाकर मैंने ब्राह्मणोंको दान किया; किंतु उस पुण्यसे भी मैं यहाँ नहीं आया हूँ ।।
Bhagīratha uvāca — Vāhlīka-deśe samutpannān śveta-varṇān aśvān lakṣa-saṅkhyān suvarṇa-mālābhiḥ alaṅkṛtya mayā brāhmaṇebhyo dānaṃ dattam; kintu tena puṇyena’pi ahaṃ iha na āgataḥ. Koṭīśaḥ kāñcanasya aṣṭādaśa prādāṃ brāhman daśānvaham; ekaikasmin kratau tena phalena’ham na ca āgataḥ.
ଭଗୀରଥ କହିଲେ—ବାହ୍ଲୀକ ଦେଶରେ ଜନ୍ମିତ ଶ୍ୱେତବର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଏକ ଲକ୍ଷ ଘୋଡ଼ାକୁ ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣମାଳାରେ ସଜାଇ ମୁଁ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦାନ କଲି; ତଥାପି ସେହି ପୁଣ୍ୟରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ଏହି ଅବସ୍ଥାକୁ ପହଞ୍ଚିଲି ନାହିଁ। ହେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ! ପ୍ରତ୍ୟେକ ଯଜ୍ଞରେ ମୁଁ ପ୍ରତିଦିନ ଅଠାରୋ କୋଟି ସୁବର୍ଣ୍ଣମୁଦ୍ରା ବଣ୍ଟନ କରୁଥିଲି; ତଥାପି ତାହାର ଫଳରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ମୁଁ ଏଠାକୁ ଆସିଲି ନାହିଁ।
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even immense ritual giving and lavish donations do not automatically guarantee the highest attainment; the passage underscores the limitation of external acts when detached from the deeper conditions of dharma—inner purity, right intention, and the broader moral-spiritual framework that the surrounding discourse is emphasizing.
Bhagīratha addresses a Brahmin and recounts extraordinary acts of generosity—donating a lakh of gold-adorned horses from Vāhlīka and distributing vast sums of gold in sacrifices—yet confesses that the merit from these deeds still did not bring him to the ‘here’ being discussed, highlighting a reflective, self-critical evaluation of merit and attainment.