Ramayana — Bala Kanda, Sarga 64, Shloka 19
रम्भा
प्रलोभनम् — Rambhā’s Temptation and Viśvāmitra’s Curse
तावद्यावद्धि मे प्राप्तं ब्राह्मण्यं तपसाऽऽर्जितम्।अनुच्छवसन्नभुञ्जान स्तिष्ठेयं शाश्वतीस्समा:।।1.64.19।।न हि मे तप्यमानस्य क्षयं यास्यन्ति मूर्तय:।
tāvad yāvad dhi me prāptaṃ brāhmaṇyaṃ tapasā ’rjitam | anucchvasann abhuñjānaḥ tiṣṭheyaṃ śāśvatīḥ samāḥ || 1.64.19 || na hi me tapyamānasya kṣayaṃ yāsyanti mūrtayaḥ |
“جب تک میں تپسیا سے حاصل کیا ہوا برہمن پن نہ پا لوں، میں بے سانس اور بے خوراک، ابدی برسوں تک قائم رہوں گا؛ کیونکہ جب میں ریاضت میں مشغول ہوں تو میرے اعضا ہرگز زوال کو نہ پہنچیں گے۔”
Until brahminhood is obtained by my austerities, I shall stay without breathing or eating for innumerable years. While performing penance, my limbs shall not undergo deterioration".
FAQs
Dharma is steadfast striving toward a higher ethical-spiritual state: the verse frames brāhmaṇya as something earned through truthfulness, restraint, and sustained tapas—not merely by birth or claim.
Viśvāmitra declares a long-term ascetic program—fasting and breath-restraint—until he achieves brāhmaṇya through austerity.
Perseverance (dhṛti) and unwavering commitment to self-purification after recognizing a moral failure.