Shloka 38
Adhyāya 136: Yavakrī–Bharadvāja Saṃvāda and the Bāladhī–Dhanuṣākṣa Gāthā
Arrogance, Boons, and Nimitta
इन्द्र रवाच यथैव भवता चेदं तपो वेदाथमुद्यतम् । अशक्यं तद्वदस्माभिरयं भार: समाहित:,इन्द्र बोले--मुने! जैसे आपने बिना पढ़े वेदोंका ज्ञान प्राप्त करनेके लिये यह तपस्या प्रारम्भ की है जिसकी सफलता असम्भव है, उसी प्रकार मैंने भी यह पुल बाँधनेका भार उठाया है
indra uvāca | yathaiva bhavatā cedaṃ tapo vedārtham udyatam | aśakyaṃ tad vadāsmābhir ayaṃ bhāraḥ samāhitaḥ ||
Indra disse: “Ó sábio, assim como tu empreendeste esta austeridade para obter o conhecimento do Veda sem estudo — um esforço cujo êxito é impossível — do mesmo modo eu assumi este fardo de construir a ponte.”
यवक्रीत उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse cautions against pursuing lofty goals through improper or unrealistic means. Vedic knowledge traditionally requires disciplined study under a teacher; attempting to bypass that through sheer austerity is portrayed as ‘aśakya’ (impossible). Ethically, it underscores humility and the need to align effort with right method and attainable dharmic practice.
Indra responds to the sage Yavakrīta, comparing Yavakrīta’s attempt to gain Vedic knowledge without study through tapas to Indra’s own assumption of a difficult burden—here described as building a bridge. The comparison is used to highlight the impracticality of the undertaking and to admonish or redirect the ascetic’s course.