Shloka 17
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
(विरुद्ध वेदसूत्राणामुक्त यदि भवेन्नूप । वयं विरुद्धवचना यदि तत्र पतामहे ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | viruddha-veda-sūtrāṇām uktaṃ yadi bhaven nṛpa | vayaṃ viruddha-vacanā yadi tatra patāmahe || tataḥ tasmin muhūrte ’tha rājoparicaras tadā | adho vai sambabhūvāśu bhūme vivara-go nṛpa rājann ||
قال بهيشما: «أيها الملك! إن كان ما قلته مخالفاً للڤيدا وللسوترات (Sūtra)، فلتقع لعنتنا لا محالة؛ وإن كنا نحن القائلين بما يخالف الشاسترا، فليكن سقوطنا نحن.» وما إن نطق الحكماء بذلك حتى في تلك اللحظة نفسها هبط الملك أوباريتشارا سريعاً من السماء، ودخل فوراً في شقٍّ من الأرض.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage teaches that claims and judgments must be measured against established sacred authority (Veda and sūtra). Ethical confidence is shown by accepting consequences: if one is wrong against dharma, one should be ready to bear the fall; if the other is wrong, the curse rightly applies.
A challenge is framed: if the king’s statement is anti-scriptural, the sages’ curse should stand; if the sages are anti-scriptural, they should fall. Immediately after this pronouncement, King Uparichara descends from the sky and enters a cleft in the earth, signaling that the verdict has taken effect.