Shloka 112
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
पश्यतेमं सुविपुलं तपसा तस्य धीमत: । कथमेवंविध॑ स्याद् वै पार्श्रमन्न्यदिति द्विजा:
paśyatemaṃ suvipulaṃ tapasā tasya dhīmataḥ | katham evaṃvidhaḥ syād vai pārśvam anyad iti dvijāḥ ||
“Masdan ninyo sa sarili ninyong mga mata ang napakalaking bungang natamo ko sa pamamagitan ng tapas ng taong marunong na iyon. O mga dvija (dalawang ulit na isinilang), ngayo’y nababagabag ako sa isip na ito: paano kaya ang kabilang panig ng aking katawan ay magiging gaya rin nito?”
श्षशुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights faith in tapas (austerity) as a force that yields tangible results (phala). It also suggests an ethical impulse toward completeness and self-improvement—having witnessed a remarkable benefit, the speaker seeks a balanced, fully realized transformation rather than partial attainment.
Addressing Brahmins, the speaker points to a striking, visible outcome produced by a wise person’s austerity and invites them to witness it. He then expresses concern and curiosity about how the other side of his body might likewise attain the same condition, implying a partial transformation or blessing that he wishes to make whole.