Shloka 16
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
वाजिनां बाह्विजातानामयुतान्यददं दश । कर्काणां हेममालानां न च तेनाहमागत:
vājīnāṃ bāhvijātānām ayutāny adadaṃ daśa | karkāṇāṃ hemamālānāṃ na ca tenāham āgataḥ ||
ภคีรถะกล่าวว่า “เรามอบม้าพันธุ์เลิศหนึ่งหมื่นตัว และถวายพวงมาลัยทองคำอย่างอุดม; กระนั้นด้วยทานนั้นเอง เราก็มิได้บรรลุจุดหมายที่เราปรารถนา”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
Material generosity, even on a vast scale, does not automatically yield the highest spiritual or ethical attainment; the desired end depends on inner disposition, right intention, and the appropriate dharmic means—not merely the quantity of gifts.
Bhagīratha reflects on his own acts of giving—donating large numbers of fine horses and golden garlands—and admits that these offerings did not bring him to the attainment he was aiming for, setting up a discussion on what truly leads to fulfillment or merit.