Shloka 27
Adhyāya 57: Tapas–Dāna Phala
On the Fruits of Austerity and Giving
“कल्याणी! देखो, हमने भूगुकुलतिलक च्यवन मुनिकी कृपासे कैसे-कैसे अद्भुत और परम दुर्लभ पदार्थ देखे हैं। भला, तपोबलसे बढ़कर और कौन-सा बल है? ।।
kalyāṇi! paśya, vayaṁ bhṛgukula-tilaka-cyavana-muneḥ kṛpayā kathaṁ-kathaṁ adbhutān parama-durlabhān ca padārthān dṛṣṭavantaḥ. bhala, tapobalāt paraṁ ca ko 'nyaḥ balaḥ? || tapasā tad avāpyaṁ hi yat tu śakyaṁ manorathaiḥ | trailokya-rājyād api hi tapa eva viśiṣyate ||
毗湿摩说道：“吉祥的夫人啊，且看——承遮耶婆那牟尼之恩，他乃婆利古族之华饰，我等得见诸多奇妙而极其罕有之事。诚然，何力能胜苦行之力？因为凭苦行，人能真实获得那仅在心中作为愿望而可想象之物；苦行之尊，甚至胜过统御三界之王权。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Tapas (austerity and disciplined spiritual effort) is presented as the highest form of power: it can concretely realize what is otherwise only imaginable, and it surpasses even worldly supremacy such as rule over the three worlds.
Bhishma addresses an ‘auspicious lady’ and recalls extraordinary, rare attainments witnessed through the grace of the sage Cyavana, using this as evidence to praise the unmatched efficacy of tapas.