Shloka 11
असंतोषादिदोष-निरूपणम्
On the Faults of Discontent and the Discipline of Detachment
पत्राहारैरश्मकुट्टैदन्तोलूखलिकैस्तथा । अब्भक्षेवायुभक्षैश्न तैरयं नरको जित:
patrāhārair aśmakuṭṭair dantolūkhalikais tathā | abbhakṣair vāyubhakṣaiś ca tair ayaṃ narako jitaḥ ||
ଯେମାନେ ପତ୍ର ଖାଇ ଜୀବନ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି, ଯେମାନେ ପଥର ଉପରେ ପିସିଥିବା ଆହାର ଖାଆନ୍ତି, କିମ୍ବା ଚକ୍କି-ପିସା ଓ ଓଖଳି-କୁଟା ଆହାରକୁ ଆଶ୍ରୟ ନକରି କେବଳ ଦାନ୍ତରେ ଚବାଇ ଖାଆନ୍ତି; ଏବଂ ଯେମାନେ କେବଳ ଜଳ—ଅଥବା ବାୟୁ—ରେ ଜୀବନ ଧାରଣ କରନ୍ତି, ସେହି ତପସ୍ବୀମାନେ ଏହି ‘ନରକ’କୁ ଜୟ କରିଛନ୍ତି।
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Rigorous self-restraint (tapas) is portrayed as a force that overcomes ‘naraka’—whether understood as literal hell or as the hellish consequences of sin and uncontrolled desire—emphasizing ethical purification through disciplined living.
In the Śānti Parva’s dharma-discourse setting, Yudhiṣṭhira cites extreme ascetic practices (leaf-diet, stone-ground fare, chewing without processed food, living on water or air) to illustrate how powerful austerity is considered in conquering suffering and moral downfall.