Shloka 40
Aṣṭāvakra’s Visit to Kubera: Hospitality, Temptation, and the Ethics of Restraint (अष्टावक्र-वैश्रवणोपाख्यानम्)
पराशर उवाच प्रसाद्येह पुरा शर्व मनसाचिन्तयं नृप । महातपा महातेजा महायोगी महायशा:
parāśara uvāca | prasādyeha purā śarvaṁ manasā cintayaṁ nṛpa | mahātapā mahātejā mahāyogī mahāyaśāḥ |
Wika ni Parāśara: “O hari, noong unang panahon, dito ring lugar na ito, matapos kong palugdan si Śarva (Śiva), sinimulan kong pagnilayan Siya sa loob ng aking isipan. Sa pamamagitan ng aking pag-aayuno at panloob na debosyon, hinangad ko ang biyaya ng Panginoon—upang ipagkaloob ang anak na ninanais ng aking puso: may dakilang kapangyarihan ng pagtalima, dakilang liwanag na espirituwal, ganap na pagkamahusay sa yoga, at di-nalulupig na katanyagan.”
पराशर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual principle that disciplined austerity (tapas) combined with inward contemplation and devotion can invite divine grace, leading to elevated outcomes—here, the aspiration for an exceptional, dharma-aligned progeny.
Parāśara narrates to a king that he once propitiated Śiva (Śarva) and began meditating upon him mentally, describing the intended fruit of that practice: the granting of a highly accomplished and illustrious son.