Shloka 53
Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
“बरगदकी जटासे अपने शरीरको रगड़े, राईका उबटन लगाये और दूधके साथ साठीके चावलोंकी खीर बनाकर भोजन करे तो मनुष्य सब पापोंसे मुक्त हो जाता है ।।
śakra uvāca | śrūyatāṃ cāparaṃ guhyaṃ rahasyam ṛṣi-cintitam | śrutaṃ me bhāṣamāṇasya sthāṇoḥ sthāne bṛhaspate ||
釈迦羅は言った。「バニヤン（バルガド）の垂れ根で身を擦り、芥子の塗香を塗り、乳で ṣaṣṭika の米を煮てキールとして食すれば、人は一切の罪より解き放たれる。さらにもう一つの秘奥を聞け。これは仙人たちが思惟した密なる教えである。私はブリハスパティの口から、スターヌ（シヴァ）の御前で語られたのを聞いた。」
शक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a ‘guhya rahasya’—a confidential dharmic instruction—grounded in sage-reflection and validated by transmission from Bṛhaspati in Śiva’s presence, implying that purification and release from wrongdoing are supported by authoritative, carefully preserved teachings.
Indra (Śakra) speaks and introduces an additional secret doctrine. He claims personal hearing of this teaching from Bṛhaspati, delivered in the presence of Sthāṇu (Śiva), thereby establishing the pedigree and seriousness of what he is about to explain.