Shloka 41
Pratyakṣa–Āgama–Ācāra: Doubt, Proof, and the Practice of Dharma (प्रत्यक्ष–आगम–आचारविचारः)
जो मृगचर्या-व्रतकी दीक्षा ले मृगोंके मुखसे उच्छिष्ट हुई घासको प्रसन्नतापूर्वक उन्हींके साथ रहकर भक्षण करता है, वह मृत्युके पश्चात् अमरावतीपुरीमें जाता है ।।
yo mṛgacaryā-vratakī dīkṣāṃ le mṛgāṇāṃ mukhata ucciṣṭa-bhūtāṃ ghāsaṃ prasannatā-pūrvakaṃ tair eva sārdhaṃ sthitvā bhakṣayati, sa mṛtyoḥ paścād amarāvatī-purīṃ gacchati. śaivālaṃ śīrṇa-parṇaṃ vā tad-vratī yo niṣevate, śīta-yoga-vahaḥ nityaṃ sa gacchet paramāṃ gatim.
Wika ni Maheśvara: Sinumang tumanggap ng pagsisimula sa panatang mamuhay na gaya ng usa, at naninirahang payapa sa piling nila, na masayang kumakain ng damong naiwan mula sa kanilang mga bibig, ay pagkamatay ay tutungo sa Amarāvatī, ang lungsod na makalangit. Gayundin, ang asetang tumutupad sa panata na nabubuhay sa lumot-alga o sa tuyô at nalaglag na mga dahon, at araw-araw na nagtitiis sa hirap ng lamig, ay makakamtan ang pinakamataas na kalagayan.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that rigorous, contented, non-violent ascetic observances—living simply among animals, eating minimal forest fare like algae or fallen leaves, and patiently enduring cold—generate great religious merit leading to exalted posthumous destinations, even the ‘highest state’.
Śrīmaheśvara is describing specific forest-vows and their fruits: one who takes the ‘deer-like’ vow and eats grass remnants among deer is said to reach Amarāvatī after death; similarly, a vow-holder living on algae or withered leaves and enduring daily cold attains the supreme goal.