Shloka 6
आदि पर्व — अध्याय ८३: ययाति-इन्द्र-संवादः तथा अष्टक-प्रश्नः
Yayāti–Indra Dialogue and Aṣṭaka’s Inquiry
शर्मिष्शोवाच तपसा तेजसा चैव दीप्यमानं यथा रविम् | त॑ दृष्टवा मम सम्प्रष्टं शक्तिनासीच्छुचिस्मिते,शर्मिष्ठा बोली--शुचिस्मिते! वे अपने तप और तेजसे सूर्यकी भाँति प्रकाशित हो रहे थे। उन्हें देखकर मुझे कुछ पूछनेका साहस ही नहीं हुआ
Śarmiṣṭhovāca tapasā tejasā caiva dīpyamānaṃ yathā ravim | taṃ dṛṣṭvā mama sampraṣṭuṃ śaktir nāsīc chucismite ||
Sumagot si Śarmiṣṭhā: “O ikaw na may malinis na ngiti, nagliliwanag siya sa tindi ng kanyang tapas at ningning na parang araw. Nang makita ko siya, wala akong lakas ng loob upang magtanong.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral psychology of reverence: genuine tapas and tejas command respect, and humility restrains impulsive questioning before spiritual authority.
Śarmiṣṭhā describes encountering someone blazing with ascetic power like the sun; overwhelmed by that radiance, she feels unable to ask her intended question.