Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ
Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony
नानाशकुनिसम्भोज्यै: फलैरव॑क्षेरलंकृतम् । यथास्थानविनिक्षिप्तैर्भूषितं भस्मराशिभि:
nānā-śakuni-sambhojyaiḥ phalair avakṣer alaṅkṛtam | yathā-sthāna-vinikṣiptair bhūṣitaṃ bhasma-rāśibhiḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vāsudeva: Ang ashram ay napapalamutian ng sari-saring bungang maaaring kainin ng iba’t ibang ibon, at ng mga punong hitik sa mga iyon. Ang mga bunton ng abo, na inilagay sa nararapat na mga pook, ay lalo pang nagdagdag sa payak at mahigpit na ganda—mga tanda ng disiplinadong pamumuhay at mga banal na ritwal, hindi ng palamuting makamundo.
वासुदेव उवाच
True beauty in a dharmic life is not luxury but disciplined simplicity: natural abundance (fruits for creatures) and ritual austerity (ash from sacred fires) become the ‘ornaments’ of an āśrama, pointing to restraint, purity, and ordered conduct.
Vāsudeva is describing the appearance of a hermitage: it is decorated by fruit-bearing trees and fruits suitable for birds, and by ash-heaps placed neatly in their proper locations—suggesting ongoing sacred fires, rites, and an ascetic, well-ordered environment.