Shloka 203
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
काष्ठ भूतो55श्रमपदे वसति सम महातपा: । आश्रममें प्रवेश करते ही देवलमुनिने वहाँ बैठे हुए जैगीषव्यको देखा, परंतु जैगीषव्यने उस समय भी किसी तरह उनसे बात नहीं की। वे महातपस्वी मुनि आश्रमपर काष्ठमौन होकर बैठे हुए थे
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kāṣṭha-bhūto 'śrama-pade vasati sama-mahātapāḥ.
वैशम्पायन उवाच—काष्ठभूत इवाश्रमपदे वसति स महातपाः। आश्रमं प्रविश्य देवलो मुनिसत्तमः तत्रोपविष्टं जैगीषव्यं ददर्श; स तु तदा अपि तेन सह कथां न चकार। स महातपस्वी मुनिः काष्ठमौनव्रतेन तत्रोपविष्ट आसीत॥
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true tapas expresses itself as deep restraint—silence, stillness, and equanimity. Ethical strength is shown by mastery over speech and reaction, not by outward display.
Devala enters the hermitage and sees the sage Jaigiṣavya seated there. Jaigiṣavya remains in kāṣṭha-like stillness and does not speak, maintaining a discipline of silence and self-possessed austerity.