सनत्कुमार उवाच । सत्यं वस्तु मुने दध्याः साक्षात्करणगोचरः । स शिवोथासहायोत्र तपश्चरसि किं कृते ११ ।
O sage, you must meditate upon the True object. The great lord Śiva can be realised and seen. But wherefore do you perform the penance here unattended?
When Sanatkumāra addressed him thus, the sage Vyāsa clarified his purpose. “By the favour of divine elders like you I have almost established the four ways of virtue, wealth, love and salvation with due adherence to the Vedic path, in the world.
बहुधा स्थापिता लोके मया त्वत्कृपया तथा । एवं भुतस्य मेप्येवं गुरुभूतस्य सर्वतः १३ ।
Many times have I established in the world, through your grace, and likewise, Thus, my own existence too is shaped, by the all-encompassing nature of the Guru.
मुक्तिसाधनकं ज्ञानं नोदेति परमाद्भुतम् । तपश्चरामि मुक्त्यर्थं न जाने तत्र कारणम् १४ ।
I have become a preceptor unto all. Still it is surprising that the knowledge of the means of liberation has not dawned on me. I am performing penance for the sake of salvation. But I do not know how it can be achieved.