Shloka 40
Adhyāya 270 — Yudhiṣṭhira’s inquiry on saṃnyāsa; Bhīṣma on calculable time, tamas, and karma
Vṛtra–Uśanā exemplum begins
तस्य साक्षात् कुण्डधारो दर्शयामास भारत,भरतनन्दन! इतनेहीमें ब्राह्मगकी तपस्याके प्रभावसे तथा उसके प्रति सौहार्दसे प्रेरित होकर कुण्डधारने उसे प्रत्यक्ष दर्शन दिया। उससे मिलकर ब्राह्मणने कुण्डधारकी विधिपूर्वक पूजा की। नरेश्वर! उसे देखकर ब्राह्मणको बड़ा आश्चर्य हुआ
tasya sākṣāt kuṇḍadhāro darśayāmāsa bhārata, bharatanandana! itanehīme brāhmaṇasya tapasyā-prabhāvena tathā tasmin prati sauhārdāt preritaḥ kuṇḍadhāreṇa tasmai pratyakṣa-darśanaṃ dattam. tena saṃgamya brāhmaṇena kuṇḍadhārasya vidhi-pūrvakaṃ pūjanaṃ kṛtam. nareśvara! taṃ dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇasya mahad āścaryaṃ jātaṃ.
Wika ni Bhīṣma: “O inapo ni Bharata, O ligaya ng mga Bharata! Sa sandaling iyon, si Kuṇḍadhāra ay nagpakita sa kanya nang hayagan. Dahil sa kapangyarihan ng pagtalima sa austeridad ng brāhmaṇa at sa mabuting-loob na pakikipagkaibigan sa kanya, ipinagkaloob ni Kuṇḍadhāra ang isang lantad na darśana. Pagkatapos nilang magkita, sinamba ng brāhmaṇa si Kuṇḍadhāra ayon sa wastong ritwal. O hari, sa pagkakita sa kanya, napuno ng matinding pagkamangha ang brāhmaṇa.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical-spiritual principle that disciplined austerity (tapas) and sincere disposition can draw a direct response: spiritual power and goodwill together become the cause for ‘darśana’ (a direct encounter). It also models proper conduct after receiving grace—responding with reverent, rule-guided worship rather than pride or entitlement.
A brāhmaṇa, through the efficacy of his austerities, becomes the recipient of a direct appearance by Kuṇḍadhāra, who is additionally moved by friendly goodwill. The brāhmaṇa then meets him and performs formal worship according to ritual prescriptions, and he is struck with great amazement at the encounter.