Shloka 17
अहिंसा-प्रधान धर्मविचारः
Ahiṃsā as the Superior Dharma: Practical and Scriptural Reasoning
वहाँ मृत्युदेवीने अत्यन्त दुष्कर और उत्तम तपस्या की। वह पंद्रह पद्म वर्षोतक एक पैरपर खड़ी रही ।। तां तथा कुर्वतीं तत्र तप: परमदुश्चरम् । पुनरेव महातेजा ब्रह्मा वचनमब्रवीत्
tāṁ tathā kurvatīṁ tatra tapaḥ paramaduścaram | punar eva mahātejā brahmā vacanam abravīt ||
เมื่อเธอยังคงบำเพ็ญตบะอันยากยิ่งอยู่ ณ ที่นั้น พระพรหมผู้มีเดชานุภาพใหญ่ยิ่งก็ตรัสถ้อยคำกับนางอีกครั้ง
पितामह उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights tapas—steadfast, difficult self-discipline—as a morally potent force that draws divine recognition. Ethical strength is shown not through power or violence but through sustained restraint and purposeful austerity.
A female figure (contextually Mṛtyudevī) is engaged in extremely difficult austerities. Observing her sustained tapas, the radiant Brahmā approaches again and speaks, signaling a turning point where the ascetic effort is acknowledged and a response (often guidance or a boon) is about to be given.