Shloka 8
Adhyāya 112: Ṛṣyaśṛṅga’s Description of an Exemplary Brahmacārī
Ascetic Presence and Vow-Practice
यथा वन॑ माधवमासि मध्ये समीरितं श्वसनेनेव भाति । तथा स भात्युत्तमपुण्यगन्धी निषेव्यमाण: पवनेन तात,तात! जैसे माधवमास (वैशाख या वसंत ऋतु) में (सौरभयुक्त मलय-) समीरसे सेवित वन-उपवनकी शोभा होती है, उसी प्रकार पवनदेवसे सेवित वह ब्रह्मचारी उत्तम एवं पवित्र गन्धसे सुवासित और सुशोभित हो रहा था
yathā vanaṁ mādhavamāsi madhye samīritaṁ śvasanen eva bhāti | tathā sa bhāty uttama-puṇya-gandhī niṣevyamāṇaḥ pavanena tāta ||
Disse Ṛśyaśṛṅga: “Meu filho, assim como um bosque, no coração do mês de Mādhava, resplandece quando é agitado pela brisa, como se fosse o sopro da vida, assim também resplandecia aquele brahmacārin—fragrante com o mais excelente perfume santificador—assistido e abanado pelo deus do Vento.”
ऋष्यशुड्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that disciplined purity (brahmacarya) has a palpable radiance, and when supported by auspicious forces (symbolized by Pavana), inner virtue becomes outwardly evident—like a spring forest enlivened by a gentle breeze.
R̥ṣyaśṛṅga describes the striking presence of a brahmacārin: as the spring forest looks beautiful when the wind moves through it, so the ascetic appears splendid and sweetly fragrant, as though attended by the Wind-god himself.