Shloka 16
पितृयज्ञे नारायणतत्त्वम् — The Nārāyaṇa Grounding of Ancestral Offerings
उन्हें इस प्रकार जाते देख समस्त गन्धर्व, अप्सराओंके समुदाय तथा सिद्ध ऋषि-मुनि महान् आश्चर्यमें पड़ गये ।।
śuka uvāca |
teṣāṁ tathā gacchatāṁ dṛṣṭvā sarve gandharvā apsarasāṁ gaṇaś ca siddhā ṛṣayaś ca mahad āścaryam āpannāḥ | antarīkṣagataḥ ko ’yaṁ tapasā siddhim āgataḥ | adhaḥkāyo ’rdhva-vaktraś ca netraiḥ samabhirajyate iti parasparaṁ ūcuḥ ||
舒迦说道：见他以那般非凡的方式行进，诸天乐神乾闼婆、众天女阿普萨罗，以及已臻成就的圣仙们，无不大为惊异。他们彼此说道：“这位尊者是谁，凭苦行得证圆满，却在虚空中行走——面容仰向上方，而身之下部却垂向下方？我们的目光不由自主地被他吸引。”
शुक उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the compelling power of tapas (austerity) and spiritual accomplishment (siddhi): genuine inner attainment can command reverence even among celestial beings, reminding the listener that ethical self-discipline and ascetic practice are recognized as sources of extraordinary capability and authority.
Śuka narrates that Gandharvas, Apsarases, and perfected sages see an extraordinary ascetic moving through the sky in an unusual posture (face upward, lower body downward). Astonished, they question among themselves who this great soul is and note that their gaze is involuntarily drawn to him.