Shloka 203
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
काष्ठ भूतो55श्रमपदे वसति सम महातपा: । आश्रममें प्रवेश करते ही देवलमुनिने वहाँ बैठे हुए जैगीषव्यको देखा
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: kāṣṭha-bhūto 'śrama-pade vasati sama-mahātapāḥ.
毗湿摩波耶那说：那位大苦行者住在林居之地，宛如化作木石——寂然不动，自制圆满。提婆罗进入 āśrama 时，看见耆耆沙毗耶端坐其间；然而耆耆沙毗耶即便在那时也丝毫不与他说话，那位大修苦行的牟尼守持默誓（mauna），如木般静坐。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores that true tapas expresses itself as deep restraint—silence, stillness, and equanimity. Ethical strength is shown by mastery over speech and reaction, not by outward display.
Devala enters the hermitage and sees the sage Jaigiṣavya seated there. Jaigiṣavya remains in kāṣṭha-like stillness and does not speak, maintaining a discipline of silence and self-possessed austerity.