Shloka 1
Within the Greatness of Guru-tīrtha: The Episode of Nahuṣa and Aśokasundarī
in the Cyavana account
रंभोवाच । तप एतत्परित्यज्य किंवा लोकयसे शुभे । तपसः क्षरणं स्याद्वै पुरुषस्यापि चिंतनात्
raṃbhovāca | tapa etatparityajya kiṃvā lokayase śubhe | tapasaḥ kṣaraṇaṃ syādvai puruṣasyāpi ciṃtanāt
Rambhā nói: “Hỡi người nữ cát tường, sao nàng bỏ hạnh khổ tu rồi còn ngoảnh nhìn về phía ấy? Chỉ một niệm nghĩ đến nam nhân cũng thật có thể làm suy giảm công đức khổ hạnh.”
Rambhā
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रंभोवाच = रम्भा + उवाच (आ + उ → ओ). एतत्परित्यज्य = एतत् + परित्यज्य (त् + प → त्प्). स्याद्वै = स्यात् + वै (त् + व → द्व्).
FAQs
It teaches that austerity (tapas) is not only physical but also mental; even entertaining desire-laden thoughts can diminish the spiritual potency gained through penance.
In the verse’s context, “thinking of a man” functions as a shorthand for attachment and sensual distraction—mental fixation that breaks inward discipline and causes tapas to decline.
It emphasizes vigilance over the mind: renunciation is weakened not merely by actions, but by intentions and thoughts that reintroduce attachment.