Shloka 27
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
“कल्याणी! देखो, हमने भूगुकुलतिलक च्यवन मुनिकी कृपासे कैसे-कैसे अद्भुत और परम दुर्लभ पदार्थ देखे हैं। भला, तपोबलसे बढ़कर और कौन-सा बल है? ।।
kalyāṇi! paśya, vayaṁ bhṛgukula-tilaka-cyavana-muneḥ kṛpayā kathaṁ-kathaṁ adbhutān parama-durlabhān ca padārthān dṛṣṭavantaḥ. bhala, tapobalāt paraṁ ca ko 'nyaḥ balaḥ? || tapasā tad avāpyaṁ hi yat tu śakyaṁ manorathaiḥ | trailokya-rājyād api hi tapa eva viśiṣyate ||
कल्याणि, भृगुकुलतिलकस्य च्यवनमुनेः प्रसादात् वयं नानाविधानि चित्राणि सुदुर्लभानि च पदार्थान् दृष्टवन्तः। किमु तपोबलात् परं बलम्? तपसा तदवाप्यं हि यत्तु शक्यं मनोरथैः। त्रैलोक्यराज्यादपि हि तप एव विशिष्यते॥
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tapas (austerity and disciplined spiritual effort) is presented as the highest form of power: it can concretely realize what is otherwise only imaginable, and it surpasses even worldly supremacy such as rule over the three worlds.
Bhishma addresses an ‘auspicious lady’ and recalls extraordinary, rare attainments witnessed through the grace of the sage Cyavana, using this as evidence to praise the unmatched efficacy of tapas.