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 ||
അവൻ ഈച്ച, കൊതുക് മുതലായവയുടെ ദേഹവും ധരിക്കുന്നു. ഓ വിപുലാ! ആരാലും അവനെ പിടിക്കുകയോ നിയന്ത്രിക്കുകയോ സാധ്യമല്ല.
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.