Shloka 5
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
सायं प्रातश्च भगवान् दृश्यते हव्यवाहन: । मक्षिकाश्नादशंस्तत्र तपस: प्रतिघातिका:
sāyaṁ prātaś ca bhagavān dṛśyate havyavāhanaḥ | makṣikāśnād aśaṁs tatra tapasaḥ pratighātikāḥ ||
Disse Vaiśampāyana: “Ao entardecer e novamente ao amanhecer, via-se ali o venerável Fogo—Havyavāhana, o portador das oferendas. Contudo, naquele mesmo lugar ele falou também de impedimentos, devoradores como moscas, que investem contra a ascese (tapas), advertindo que tais distrações e aflições podem obstruir o fruto do tapas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even sincere austerity (tapas) can be undermined by small but persistent distractions and afflictions; vigilance and steadiness are required so that practice is not ‘struck down’ by impediments.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana reports that Agni (Havyavāhana) is seen at dawn and dusk, and that he issues a warning about obstructive forces—likened to devouring flies—that hinder ascetic effort in that locale.