Shloka 13

गालवस्य विषादः तथा विष्णुप्रयाणम्

Gālava’s Despair and Resolve to Seek Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

भक्तं प्रगृह्म मूर्ध्ना वै बाहुभ्यां संशितव्रत: । स्थित: स्थाणुरिवाभ्याशे निश्चेष्टो मार्ताशन:

Transliteration

bhaktaṃ pragṛhya mūrdhnā vai bāhubhyāṃ saṃśitavrataḥ | sthitaḥ sthāṇur ivābhyāśe niśceṣṭo mārutāśanaḥ ||

Translation

କଠୋର ବ୍ରତନିଷ୍ଠ ବିଶ୍ୱାମିତ୍ର ଦୁଇ ହାତରେ ଭୋଜନପାତ୍ରକୁ ଧରି ମସ୍ତକ ଉପରେ ରଖିଲେ ଏବଂ ଆଶ୍ରମ ସମୀପରେ ଗଛର ଠୁଣ୍ଠ ପରି ନିଶ୍ଚଳ ଦଣ୍ଡାୟମାନ ରହିଲେ; ସେ ଅବସ୍ଥାରେ ତାଙ୍କର ଆହାର କେବଳ ବାୟୁ ଥିଲା।

Word by Word

• भक्तम्: food (that which is eaten)
• भक्तम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भक्त (भज्-कर्मणि क्त)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• प्रगृह्य: having taken/holding
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-ग्रह्
• Form: Absolutive (Gerund)

• मूर्ध्ना: with (his) head; on the head
• मूर्ध्ना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्धन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• वै: indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै

• बाहुभ्याम्: with (his) two arms/hands
• बाहुभ्याम्: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Dual

• संशितव्रतः: one of firm/austere vows
• संशितव्रतः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संशित-व्रत
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• स्थितः: stood; remained
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्थित (स्था-क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (used predicatively), Singular

• स्थाणुः: a stump; a motionless post
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थाणु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: like; as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• अभ्याशे: near; in the vicinity
• अभ्याशे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्याश
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• निश्चेष्टः: motionless; inactive
• निश्चेष्टः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निः-चेष्ट
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• मारुताशनः: wind-eating; living on air
• मारुताशनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मारुत-आशन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nārada
• Viśvāmitra
• āśrama (hermitage)
• bhakta (food/alms vessel/portion)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights tapas and vow-discipline: true restraint is shown not merely by lacking food, but by mastering desire even when food is available, placing dharma and self-control above bodily impulse.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada describes Viśvāmitra receiving food, lifting it reverently to his head, and then standing near the hermitage utterly motionless like a stump, living only on air—an image of extreme ascetic resolve.