Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 40
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
पहले इन्द्रने स्वयं अनशनव्रतका अनुष्ठान करके इसे गुप्त रखा था। उसके बाद शुक्राचार्यने तपस्याके द्वारा उसका ज्ञान प्राप्त किया। फिर उन्हींके तेजसे उसका माहात्म्य सर्वत्र प्रकाशित हुआ। सर्वश्रेष्ठ पितामह! मैंने भी अंतमें उसी अनशनव्रतका साधन आरम्भ किया ।।
bhagīratha uvāca | pūrvaṃ indreṇa svayam anāśana-vratasya anuṣṭhānaṃ kṛtvā tad guptaṃ dhāritam | tataḥ śukrācāryeṇa tapasā tasya jñānaṃ prāptam | paścāt tasyaiva tejasā tasya māhātmyaṃ sarvatra prakāśitam | pituḥ śreṣṭha pitāmaha! aham api ante tasyaivānāśana-vratasya sādhanaṃ ārabhe || tato me brāhmaṇās tuṣṭās tasmin karmaṇi sādhite | sahasram ṛṣayaś cāsan ye vai tatra samāgatāḥ | te sarve mayi suprītāḥ | prabho! te prasannāḥ mām ājñāpayām āsuḥ—“tvaṃ brahmalokaṃ gaccha” iti | bhagavan! teṣāṃ sahasra-brāhmaṇānāṃ prasannānām āśīrvādāt aham asmin loke āgataḥ | atra bhavān anyathā na cintayet |
Sinabi ni Bhagīratha: “Noon, si Indra mismo ang nagsagawa ng panatang pag-aayuno at itinago iyon sa lihim. Pagkaraan, nalaman iyon ni Śukrācārya sa pamamagitan ng matinding pagtitiis; at sa kanyang espirituwal na ningning ay lumaganap ang kadakilaan ng panatang iyon. O pinakadakilang Pitāmaha! Sa wakas, sinimulan ko rin ang pagsasagawa ng gayunding panatang pag-aayuno. Nang matapos ang pagtalima, dumating sa akin ang libu-libong brāhmaṇa at ṛṣi. Lahat sila’y lubhang nasiyahan sa akin. Panginoon, sa kanilang galak ay iniutos nila: ‘Pumaroon ka sa Brahmaloka.’ O Kagalang-galang, sa basbas ng mga nagagalak na libu-libong brāhmaṇa ako nakarating sa daigdig na ito; huwag kang maghinala ng iba pang dahilan sa bagay na ito.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
A disciplined vow (vrata), especially fasting undertaken with sincerity and completion, generates spiritual merit and social-spiritual recognition; the blessings and authorization of realized brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis are presented as a legitimate source of elevation and passage to higher realms, emphasizing humility and transparency about one’s spiritual attainments.
Bhagīratha explains to the revered elder (pitāmaha) that he undertook the anāśana-vrata after its fame spread from Indra to Śukrācārya; upon completing it, thousands of brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis arrived, were pleased, and instructed him to go to Brahmaloka—he attributes his present state to their blessings and asks that no other motive be suspected.