Shloka 41
Tapas-śreṣṭhatā: Anāśana as the Highest Austerity
Bhagīratha–Brahmā Saṃvāda
उक्तस्तैरस्मि गच्छ त्वं ब्रह्मतोकमिति प्रभो । प्रीतेनोक्तसहस््रेण ब्राह्मणानामहं प्रभो । इमं लोकमनुप्राप्तो मा भूत् ते5त्र विचारणा
uktas tair asmi gaccha tvaṁ brahmalokam iti prabho | prītenokta-sahasreṇa brāhmaṇānām ahaṁ prabho | imaṁ lokam anuprāpto mā bhūt te 'tra vicāraṇā ||
Wika ni Bhagīratha: “O Panginoon, sinabi nila sa akin, ‘Pumaroon ka sa Brahmaloka.’ O Guro, sa mapagpalang utos at basbas ng libu-libong brāhmaṇa na lubhang nasiyahan, narating ko ang daigdig na ito. Kaya, O Panginoon, huwag nawang magduda ang iyong isip tungkol sa bagay na ito.”
भगीरथ उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the ethical authority of the righteous: when brāhmaṇas and ṛṣis are genuinely pleased by one’s conduct and rites, their blessing and instruction are treated as a trustworthy warrant for spiritual attainment. It also models humility—Bhagīratha asks the listener not to harbor suspicion, grounding his claim in the approval of the virtuous.
Bhagīratha explains that, after completing a certain undertaking, thousands of brāhmaṇas/ṛṣis arrived, were satisfied with him, and joyfully instructed him to go to Brahmaloka. He states that by their pleased blessing he has attained his present state/world, and he requests that no doubt be entertained about it.