Shloka 36
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
मक्षिकामशकादीनां वपुर्धारयतेडपि च । न शक््यमस्य ग्रहणं कर्तु विपुल केनचित्
makṣikāmaśakādīnāṁ vapur dhārayate ’pi ca | na śakyam asya grahaṇaṁ kartuṁ vipula kenacit ||
ビーシュマは言った。「彼は蝿や蚊などの身さえ取り得る。おおヴィプラよ、誰ひとりとして彼を捕らえ、縛りとどめることはできぬ。まして他の者など言うまでもない。この世界を造った創造主でさえ、彼を支配下に置くことはできない。彼が姿を消すとき、ただ智慧の眼によってのみ知られるのだ。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses the limits of physical power and coercion: a being endowed with extraordinary yogic or divine capacity can evade capture by taking subtle forms or disappearing, and can be known only through higher discernment (jñāna), not mere sensory grasping.
Bhishma addresses Vipula and describes an elusive figure whose powers include assuming tiny forms (like insects) and becoming invisible, making him impossible to restrain; recognition of such a being depends on inner knowledge rather than outward sight.