Shloka 17

Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)

Devanagari script

ऋणमुन्मुच्य देवानामृषीणां च तथैव च । 8 ॥ विप्राणामतिथीनां च पठचमम्‌

Transliteration

ṛṇam unmucya devānām ṛṣīṇāṁ ca tathaiva ca | viprāṇām atithīnāṁ ca ||

Translation

ଭୀଷ୍ମ ବ୍ୟାଖ୍ୟା କଲେ—ଗୃହସ୍ଥ ଜୀବନର ପବିତ୍ର କ୍ରମରେ ଦେବ, ଋଷି, ପିତୃ, ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣ ଓ ଅତିଥିଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଥିବା ‘ଋଣ’କୁ ସଚେତନଭାବେ ଯଥାକ୍ରମ ଶୋଧ କରିବା ଉଚିତ: ଯଜ୍ଞ-ଯାଗରେ ଦେବଋଣ, ବେଦସ୍ୱାଧ୍ୟାୟରେ ଋଷିଋଣ, ଉତ୍ତମ ପୁତ୍ରସନ୍ତାନ ଓ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧରେ ପିତୃଋଣ, ଦାନରେ ବ୍ରାହ୍ମଣଋଣ, ଏବଂ ଆତିଥ୍ୟ-ସତ୍କାରରେ ଅତିଥିଋଣ। ଯେ ଶୁଚିତା ଓ ବିନୟ ସହିତ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ରୋକ୍ତ କର୍ମ କରେ, ସେ ଗୃହସ୍ଥାଶ୍ରମରେ ଧର୍ମରୁ ଭ୍ରଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ ନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• ऋणम्: debt
• ऋणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋण
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• उन्मुच्य: having freed (oneself), after releasing
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्+मुच्
• Form: ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here), Non-finite

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• ऋषीणाम्: of the sages
• ऋषीणाम्: Apadana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋषि
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• तथा: thus, likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• एव: indeed, just
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma
• Devas (gods)
• Ṛṣis (seers)
• Vipras (Brahmins)
• Atithis (guests)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

A householder preserves dharma by repaying fundamental obligations—through worship/sacrifice, Vedic study, generosity, and hospitality—performed with purity and humility.

What is happening in the narrative?

In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he outlines the householder’s ethical-religious responsibilities, framing them as ‘debts’ that must be discharged to sustain social and cosmic order.