Shloka 24

विश्वामित्रस्य तपोविघ्नः, मेनकाप्रसङ्गः, महर्षिपदप्रदानम्

Visvamitra’s Austerity Obstructed; Menaka Episode; Conferment of Maharshi Status

Devanagari script

घर्मे पञ्चतपा भूत्वा वर्षास्वाकाशसंश्रय:।शिशिरे सलिलस्थायी रात्र्यहानि तपोधन:।।।।एवं वर्षसहस्रं हि तपो घोरमुपागमत्।

Transliteration

gharme pañcatapā bhūtvā varṣāsv ākāśasaṃśrayaḥ | śiśire salilasthāyī rātryahāni tapodhanaḥ || evaṃ varṣasahasraṃ hi tapo ghōram upāgamat |

Translation

ਗਰਮੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਪੰਚਤਪਾ ਧਾਰ ਕੇ, ਵਰਖਾ ਵਿੱਚ ਖੁੱਲ੍ਹੇ ਆਕਾਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਆਸਰਾ ਬਣਾ ਕੇ, ਸਰਦੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਾਤ ਦਿਨ ਪਾਣੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਟਿਕ ਕੇ ਉਹ ਤਪੋਧਨ ਤਪ ਕਰਦਾ ਰਿਹਾ। ਇਸ ਤਰ੍ਹਾਂ ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਵਰ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਉਸ ਨੇ ਘੋਰ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਕੀਤੀ।

Word by Word

• घर्मे: in summer
• घर्मे: अधिकरण (Location/Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: घर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चतपाः: (as) one practising five-fire penance
• पञ्चतपाः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च + तप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास: 'पञ्च तपांसि यस्य/यत्र' (five-fire penance)

• भूत्वा: having become
• भूत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund)

• वर्षासु: in the rains
• वर्षासु: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), बहुवचन

• आकाशसंश्रयः: taking shelter in the open sky
• आकाशसंश्रयः: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आकाश + संश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'आकाशं संश्रयः यस्य सः' (taking refuge in the open sky)

• शिशिरे: in winter
• शिशिरे: अधिकरण (Time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिशिर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Loc/7th), एकवचन

• सलिलस्थायी: remaining in water
• सलिलस्थायी: कर्ता-विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सलिल + स्थायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'सलिले स्थायी' (staying in water)

• रात्र्यहानि: nights and days
• रात्र्यहानि: कालाधिकरण/अव्ययीभावार्थ (Extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रात्रि + अहन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व: 'रात्रयः च अहानि च'

• तपोधनः: the tapas-wealthy ascetic
• तपोधनः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपोधन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपाधि

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: प्रकार (Manner)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (manner adverb)

• वर्षसहस्रम्: a thousand years
• वर्षसहस्रम्: कालपरिमाण (Duration/extent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: 'वर्षाणां सहस्रम्' (a thousand years)

• हि: indeed
• हि: अव्यय (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), reason/emphasis

• तपः: austerity
• तपः: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Acc/2nd), एकवचन

• घोरम्: terrible; severe
• घोरम्: कर्मणि विशेषण
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of 'तपः'

• उपागमत्: undertook; performed
• उपागमत्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप + गम् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

Context

Viswamitra whose wealth was his penance carried on his rigid austerities for a thousand years amidst five fires, in summer, under the open sky in monsoon, and immersed in ater night and day in winter.

Characters & Entities

• Viśvāmitra (Tapodhana)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma underscores disciplined endurance: sustained self-control over comfort and hardship is portrayed as a path toward inner truth (satya) and spiritual maturity.

What is the narrative situation?

The text describes Viśvāmitra’s long-term, season-by-season austerities, maintained continuously for a thousand years.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Extraordinary endurance (titikṣā) and unwavering commitment to a higher goal.