Shloka 213
अश्रमवासिनां विषादः — Lament in Hastināpura after the Elders’ Forest Withdrawal
प्रवणो5स्मि वरं दातुं पश्य मे तपस: फलम् । “महाप्राज्ञ नरेश! बोलो, मैं तुम्हें कौन-सा अभीष्ट मनोरथ प्रदान करूँ? आज मैं तुम्हें मनोवाञ्छित वर देनेको तैयार हूँ। तुम मेरी तपस्याका फल देखो”
pravaṇo ’smi varaṃ dātuṃ paśya me tapasaḥ phalam |
Vaiśampāyana nói: “Ta sẵn lòng ban một ân huệ. Hãy nhìn xem quả báo của khổ hạnh ta. Hãy nói đi, hỡi bậc quân vương trí tuệ—nguyện vọng nào mà khanh hằng ấp ủ, ta sẽ thành tựu cho khanh?”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Austerity (tapas) is portrayed as a disciplined moral force whose ‘fruit’ can become beneficent power—yet it is ethically framed as service: the ascetic’s readiness to grant a boon is directed toward fulfilling a worthy desire, not mere display.
The speaker announces his willingness to grant a boon and invites the king to state his desired wish, presenting this offer as the tangible result of accumulated ascetic merit.