Shloka 5
Ṛśyaśṛṅgopākhyāna-praveśaḥ — Lomāśa narrates the origins of Ṛśyaśṛṅga and the Anga drought (ऋश्यशृङ्गोपाख्यान-प्रवेशः)
सायं प्रातश्च भगवान् दृश्यते हव्यवाहन: । मक्षिकाश्नादशंस्तत्र तपस: प्रतिघातिका:
sāyaṁ prātaś ca bhagavān dṛśyate havyavāhanaḥ | makṣikāśnād aśaṁs tatra tapasaḥ pratighātikāḥ ||
Wika ni Vaiśampāyana: “Sa dapithapon at muli sa bukang-liwayway, nakita roon ang kagalang-galang na Apoy—si Havyavāhana, tagapagdala ng mga handog. Ngunit sa pook ding iyon, nagsalita siya tungkol sa mga hadlang na tila mga langaw: mapanira at mapanglamon, na sumasalungat sa pag-aayuno at pagninilay (tapas), at nagbabala na ang gayong mga panggugulo at pagdurusa ay maaaring humadlang sa bunga ng tapas.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even sincere austerity (tapas) can be undermined by small but persistent distractions and afflictions; vigilance and steadiness are required so that practice is not ‘struck down’ by impediments.
The narrator Vaiśampāyana reports that Agni (Havyavāhana) is seen at dawn and dusk, and that he issues a warning about obstructive forces—likened to devouring flies—that hinder ascetic effort in that locale.