Shloka 18
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
विशुद्धेन सुविनीतेन कर्मणा । एवं गृहस्थ: कर्माणि कुर्वन् धर्मान्न हीयते
bhīṣma uvāca | viśuddhena suvinītena karmaṇā | evaṃ gṛhasthaḥ karmāṇi kurvan dharmān na hīyate | yo yajña-yāgādibhiḥ kṛtvā devatā-ṛṇāt, vedānāṃ svādhyāyena ṛṣi-ṛṇāt, śreṣṭha-putrasya utpādanena tathā śrāddhena pitṛ-ṛṇāt, dānena brāhmaṇa-ṛṇāt, ātithya-satkāreṇa atithi-ṛṇāt ca mucyate; tathā kramaśaḥ viśuddha-vinaya-yukta-prayatnena śāstroktān karmāṇām anuṣṭhānaṃ karoti—sa gṛhasthaḥ kadācit dharmāt na bhraśyati |
Bhishma said: By actions that are pure and disciplined, a householder who performs his duties does not fall away from dharma. One becomes free, in due order, from the debts owed to the gods by sacrifices and worship, to the seers by Vedic study, to the ancestors by begetting a worthy son and offering śrāddha rites, to Brahmins by giving, and to guests by honoring them with hospitality. Performing the scripturally enjoined acts with ever-increasing purity and humility, such a householder never strays from righteousness.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder remains established in dharma by performing scripturally prescribed duties with purity and humility, thereby repaying the key obligations (ṛṇas) to gods, seers, ancestors, Brahmins, and guests through sacrifice, study, progeny and śrāddha, charity, and hospitality.
In Bhishma’s instruction on conduct (Anuśāsana), he explains to the listener the ethical-religious framework of gṛhastha life: disciplined performance of rites and social duties frees one from various obligations and prevents moral decline.