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Shloka 29

Bhāgīratha’s Tapas and the Petition to Gaṅgā (गङ्गावतरण-प्रसङ्गः)

अपश्यन्त हयं तत्र विचरन्तं महीतले । कपिलं च महात्मानं तेजोराशिमनुत्तमम्‌ | तेजसा दीप्यमानं तु ज्वालाभिरिव पावकम्‌,राजन! तदनन्तर क्रोधमें भरे हुए सगरपुत्रोंने समुद्रके पूर्वोत्तर प्रदेशमें पाताल फोड़कर प्रवेश किया और वहाँ उस यज्ञिय अश्वको पृथ्वीपर विचरते देखा। वहीं तेजकी परम उत्तम राशि महात्मा कपिल बैठे थे, जो अपने दिव्य तेजसे उसी प्रकार उद्धासित हो रहे थे, जैसे लपटोंसे अग्नि

apaśyanta hayaṁ tatra vicarantaṁ mahītale | kapilaṁ ca mahātmānaṁ tejorāśim anuttamam || tejasā dīpyamānaṁ tu jvālābhir iva pāvakam |

Nakita nila roon ang kabayong panghandog na gumagala sa ibabaw ng lupa, at nakita rin nila si Kapila, ang dakilang kaluluwa—isang di-mapapantayang bukal ng liwanag—na nagliliyab sa espirituwal na ningning na wari’y apoy na nababalutan ng mga liyab. Sa aral ng pangyayaring ito, matalim ang paghahambing: ang mga anak ni Sagara, hinahabol ng galit at hinala, ay humaharap sa isang pantas na ang mismong presensya ay larawan ng tapas (mahigpit na pag-aayuno/ascetisismo) at lakas-loob, at ipinahihiwatig ang panganib ng paglapit sa kabanalan nang may pagsalakay sa halip na pagpapakumbaba.

अपश्यन्they saw
अपश्यन्:
Karta
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormImperfect (Laṅ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada
हयम्the horse
हयम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootहय
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तत्रthere
तत्र:
Adhikarana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतत्र
विचरन्तम्wandering
विचरन्तम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootवि-चर्
FormPresent active participle (Śatṛ), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
महीतलेon the surface of the earth
महीतले:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमहीतल
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
कपिलम्Kapila
कपिलम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootकपिल
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
महात्मानम्the great-souled one
महात्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootमहात्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तेजोराशिम्a mass/heap of splendor
तेजोराशिम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootतेजोराशि
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अनुत्तमम्unsurpassed, supreme
अनुत्तमम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुत्तम
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तेजसाby (his) splendor
तेजसा:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतेजस्
FormNeuter, Instrumental, Singular
दीप्यमानम्shining, blazing
दीप्यमानम्:
Karma
TypeVerb
Rootदीप्
FormPresent middle participle (Śānac), Masculine, Accusative, Singular
तुindeed, but
तु:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतु
ज्वालाभिःwith flames
ज्वालाभिः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootज्वाला
FormFeminine, Instrumental, Plural
इवlike, as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
पावकम्fire
पावकम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootपावक
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular

लोगश उवाच

S
Sons of Sagara (Sagaraputrāḥ)
K
Kapila (sage)
S
Sacrificial horse (yajñiya aśva/haya)
P
Pātāla (netherworld, implied by context)
O
Ocean/sea region (implied by context)

Educational Q&A

Approaching spiritual power with anger and accusation is ethically dangerous. The verse highlights Kapila’s tapas as a supreme radiance, implying that dharma requires restraint, reverence, and careful judgment—especially when confronting ascetics and sacred matters.

The sons of King Sagara, searching for the stolen sacrificial horse, reach the region where it is found roaming. There they also behold the sage Kapila, seated and blazing with extraordinary spiritual brilliance like flaming fire—setting the stage for the ensuing confrontation and its consequences.