Shloka 19
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
तावद्यावद्धि मे प्राप्तं ब्राह्मण्यं तपसाऽऽर्जितम्।अनुच्छवसन्नभुञ्जान स्तिष्ठेयं शाश्वतीस्समा:।।1.64.19।।न हि मे तप्यमानस्य क्षयं यास्यन्ति मूर्तय:।
tāvad yāvad dhi me prāptaṃ brāhmaṇyaṃ tapasā ’rjitam | anucchvasann abhuñjānaḥ tiṣṭheyaṃ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ || 1.64.19 || na hi me tapyamānasya kṣayaṃ yāsyanti mūrtayaḥ |
“ਜਦ ਤੱਕ ਤਪੱਸਿਆ ਨਾਲ ਅਰਜਿਤ ਬ੍ਰਾਹਮਣਤਵ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਪ੍ਰਾਪਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੁੰਦਾ, ਤਦ ਤੱਕ ਮੈਂ ਸਾਹ ਰੋਕ ਕੇ ਅਤੇ ਅੰਨ ਨਾ ਖਾ ਕੇ ਅਨੰਤ ਵਰ੍ਹਿਆਂ ਤੱਕ ਖੜਾ ਰਹਾਂਗਾ; ਕਿਉਂਕਿ ਤਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਲੀਨ ਮੇਰੇ ਅੰਗ ਕਦੇ ਖ਼ਤਮ ਨਹੀਂ ਹੋਣਗੇ।”
Until brahminhood is obtained by my austerities, I shall stay without breathing or eating for innumerable years. While performing penance, my limbs shall not undergo deterioration".
FAQs
Dharma is steadfast striving toward a higher ethical-spiritual state: the verse frames brāhmaṇya as something earned through truthfulness, restraint, and sustained tapas—not merely by birth or claim.
Viśvāmitra declares a long-term ascetic program—fasting and breath-restraint—until he achieves brāhmaṇya through austerity.
Perseverance (dhṛti) and unwavering commitment to self-purification after recognizing a moral failure.