Shloka 41
Vṛddha-kanyā-carita and Balarāma’s Kurukṣetra Inquiry (वृद्धकन्या-चरितम् / कुरुक्षेत्रफल-प्रश्नः)
आहारमकरोमत्रित्यं प्राणान् वेदांश्न धारयन् । सरस्वतीके ऐसा कहनेपर सारस्वत मुनि वहीं रहकर देवताओं और पितरोंको तृप्त करने लगे। वे प्रतिदिन भोजन करते और अपने प्राणों तथा वेदोंकी रक्षा करते थे || ४० ३ || अथ तस्यामनावृष्ट्यामतीतायां महर्षय:
āhāram akarom atrityaṃ prāṇān vedāṃś ca dhārayan |
毗湿摩波耶那说：在那地方，他每日取食，以维系生命之气，并护持吠陀不坠。于是，他便留在那里，圣者萨罗娑伐多继续使诸天与祖灵得以满足——即便身处艰难，也以自持与节制守护神圣之责。
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even in crisis, one should uphold dharma through measured self-care and steadfast responsibility—sustaining one’s life and safeguarding sacred learning so that service to gods and ancestors can continue.
During a period of hardship (linked with drought in the surrounding passage), the sage Sārasvata remains by the Sarasvatī, takes daily sustenance, and continues rites that satisfy the devas and pitṛs, while preserving his prāṇa and the Vedas.