Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
इन्द्रेण गुह्मां निहितं वै गुहायां यद्धार्गवस्तपसेहा भ्यविन्दत् । जाज्वल्यमानमुशनस्तेजसेह तत्साधयामासमहं वरेण्य
bhagīratha uvāca |
indreṇa guhyāṁ nihitaṁ vai guhāyāṁ yad bhārgavas tapasehābhyavindat |
jājvalyamānam uśanas tejaseha tat sādhayām āsa mahāṁ vareṇya ||
Бхагиратха сказал: «То (таинственная сила/сокровище), что Индра спрятал в тайном месте — поистине в пещере, — и что Бхаргава (мудрец) обрёл здесь силой подвижничества; то пылающее, о великий и превосходнейший, связанное с сиянием Ушанаса (Шукры), — и я сумел совершить и обрести.»
भगीरथ उवाच
Extraordinary attainments are not merely seized by force or chance; they are secured through tapas (disciplined austerity) and inner tejas (spiritual potency). Even what is hidden by the gods can be reached by sustained merit and right effort.
Bhagīratha recounts a tradition of a powerful, radiant object or attainment: Indra concealed it in a secret cave; a Bhārgava sage obtained it through austerity; and Bhagīratha declares that he too managed to accomplish/obtain that blazing, Śukra-associated power.