Shloka 21
Sārasvata–Dadhīca Upākhyāna at Sarasvatī Tīrtha
Balarāma’s Pilgrimage Context
त॑ दृष्टवा चाप्लुतं तोये सागरे सागरोपमम्,राजन! समुद्रके समान अत्यन्त प्रभावशाली मुनिको समुद्रके जलमें स्नान करके अपनेसे पहले ही आश्रममें प्रविष्ट हुआ देख बुद्धिमान् असित देवलको पुनः बड़ी चिन्ता हुई
taṁ dṛṣṭvā cāplutaṁ toye sāgare sāgaropamam, rājan! samudrake samāna atyanta-prabhāvaśāli muniko samudrake jalena snātvā svataḥ pūrvam eva āśrame praviṣṭaṁ dṛṣṭvā buddhimān asita-devalaḥ punaḥ mahācintām āpa
毗湿摩波耶那说道：大王啊，见那位威力无比、深沉如海的圣者已在海水中沐浴，并且竟先他一步进入精舍（āśrama），智者阿悉多·提婆罗（Asita Devala）又一次被深重的忧惧攫住。此事表明：灵修的威德与严整的行持，足以令博学之士亦心生动摇，促使其自省并忧思下一步当如何行才为正道。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights how extraordinary spiritual discipline and capability (tapas/prabhāva) can provoke reflection and anxiety in others, reminding the listener that dharma is not merely knowledge but also timely, disciplined action and inner steadiness.
Vaiśampāyana narrates that Asita Devala sees an immensely powerful sage—likened to the ocean—who has already bathed in the sea and entered the hermitage ahead of him; witnessing this, Asita Devala becomes worried again, suggesting a renewed concern about the situation and what it signifies.