Shloka 3
The Bhīma-Dvādaśī
Kalyāṇinī) Vow and the Anangadāna-Vrata (with a Courtesan-Conduct Discourse
कथमारोग्यमैश्वर्यमनंतममरेश्वर । अल्पेन तपसा देव भवेन्मोक्षः सदा नृणां
kathamārogyamaiśvaryamanaṃtamamareśvara | alpena tapasā deva bhavenmokṣaḥ sadā nṛṇāṃ
Ó Senhor dos imortais, como podem os homens alcançar sempre saúde e prosperidade sem fim? E, ó Deus, como pode a libertação (mokṣa) surgir para eles com apenas pouca austeridade?
Unspecified questioner (a devotee/sage addressing a deity as 'Amareśvara')
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कथम्+आरोग्यम्+ऐश्वर्यम्+अनन्तम्+अमरेश्वर → कथम् आरोग्यम् ऐश्वर्यम् अनन्तम् अमरेश्वर; भवेन्मोक्षः → भवेत् मोक्षः (त्+म → न्म् सन्धि)।
FAQs
The speaker asks how ordinary humans can obtain well-being (health and prosperity) and, beyond that, liberation—especially through only limited austerity.
It frames moksha as attainable even with “alpa tapas” (small austerity), but it is posed as a question—inviting the text’s subsequent explanation of the means.
The verse prioritizes liberation alongside worldly welfare, suggesting that spiritual goals should guide how one seeks health and prosperity, rather than treating them as ends in themselves.