Shloka 31
प्रच्छन्ना हि महात्मानश्वरन्ति पृथिवीमिमाम् । दैवेन विधिना युक्ता: शास्त्रोक्तैश्न निरूपणै:,“बहुत-से महात्मा प्रच्छन्न रूप धारण करके देवोचित विधि तथा शास्त्रोक्त नियमोंसे युक्त होकर इस पृथ्वीपर विचरते रहते हैं
pracchannā hi mahātmānaś caranti pṛthivīm imām | daivena vidhinā yuktāḥ śāstroktaiś ca nirūpaṇaiḥ ||
Many great-souled persons, concealed in guise, move about upon this earth—guided by divine ordinance and disciplined by the prescriptions and regulations taught in the śāstras. Thus true virtue may appear in humble or hidden forms; one should treat others with reverence and ethical caution, for the righteous may be near without being recognized.
ऋचुपर्ण उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should not judge worth by outward appearance: noble and spiritually advanced people may live incognito. Therefore, ethical conduct—respect, restraint, and adherence to dharma—should be maintained toward all, as providence and śāstric discipline guide the righteous even when they are unrecognized.
Ṛcīparṇa speaks a reflective maxim: he notes that many mahātmās roam the world in concealed forms, living according to divine ordinance and śāstric rules. The statement functions as counsel within the episode, highlighting the possibility of hidden virtue and the need for careful, dharmic behavior.