Shloka 573
Indratīrtha–Ādityatīrtha: Balarāma’s Ritual Bathing, Dāna, and Sacred-Historical Recollections
प्रवक्ष्यामि परं भूयो वरमत्र यथाविधि । “कल्याणि! महात्मा भगवान् शंकरने अरुन्धती देवीको जो वर दिया था, तुम्हारे तेज और प्रभावसे मैं उससे भी बढ़कर उत्तम वर देता हूँ
pravakṣyāmi paraṃ bhūyo varam atra yathāvidhi | kalyāṇi mahātmā bhagavān śaṅkaraḥ arundhatī-devyai yo varaṃ dadau tava tejasā prabhāvena aham asmād api vardhamānaṃ śreṣṭhataraṃ varaṃ dadāmi |
Vaiśaṃpāyana nói: “Nay ta sẽ lại tuyên bày, đúng theo nghi thức, phúc ân tối thượng tại đây. Hỡi người nữ cát tường! Nhờ ánh uy lực và sức mạnh tâm linh của nàng, ta ban cho nàng một ân huệ còn thù thắng hơn ân huệ mà bậc đại hồn Śaṅkara từng ban cho nữ thần Arundhatī.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes that spiritual radiance (tejas) and moral-spiritual potency (prabhāva) can elevate one’s worthiness to receive divine or extraordinary blessings, even surpassing renowned exemplars like Arundhatī; it also underscores that boons should be granted and articulated in a proper, rule-governed manner (yathāvidhi).
Vaiśampāyana narrates a moment where a boon is being proclaimed. The speaker addresses an auspicious woman (“Kalyāṇī”) and announces that, considering her exceptional radiance and influence, he grants her a boon described as superior even to the famous boon once given by Śiva (Śaṅkara) to Arundhatī.