Shloka 21
अध्याय १२८: शिव–उमा संवादः — तिलोत्तमा, श्मशान-मेध्यता, तथा चातुर्वर्ण्य-धर्मः
Chapter 128: Śiva–Umā Dialogue—Tilottamā, the Ritual Valence of the Śmaśāna, and the Fourfold Duty-Code
तपः:प्रणिहितात्मानं मन्ये त्वारण्यकाड्क्षिणम् । बान्धवा नाभिनन्दन्ति तेनासि हरिण: कृश:
tapaḥ-praṇihitātmānaṃ manye tvāraṇyakāṅkṣiṇam | bāndhavā nābhinandanti tenāsi hariṇaḥ kṛśaḥ ||
میں سمجھتا ہوں کہ تمہارا باطن ریاضت میں لگا ہوا ہے، اسی لیے تم جنگل میں رہنے کی خواہش رکھتے ہو؛ مگر تمہارے رشتہ دار اسے پسند نہیں کرتے۔ اسی سبب تم ہرن کی مانند زرد رو اور دبلا ہو گئے ہو۔
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: sincere aspiration for tapas and renunciation may clash with familial expectations. Ethical discernment is needed so that spiritual longing does not become a source of distress, nor family attachment a force that suppresses genuine inner calling.
A Brahmin addresses someone who appears physically weakened. He infers that the person longs for forest-dwelling and austerity, but is being opposed by relatives; the resulting mental strain is reflected in the person’s pale, deer-like emaciation.