Shloka 170
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
येड्ड्गुष्ठमात्रा: पुरुषा देहस्था: सर्वदेहिनाम् | रक्षन्तु ते हि मां नित्यं नित्यं चाप्पाययन्तु माम्ू
ye ’ṅguṣṭhamātrāḥ puruṣā dehasthāḥ sarvadehinām | rakṣantu te hi māṃ nityaṃ nityaṃ cāpyāyayantu mām ||
எல்லா உடலுடையோரின் உடலினுள் உறையும் அந்த அங்குஷ்டமாத்திர புருஷர்கள் எப்போதும் என்னைக் காக்கட்டும்; எப்போதும் என்னை ஊட்டியும் புத்துணர்வூட்டியும் அருளட்டும்.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse invokes the indwelling puruṣa—conceived as a subtle ‘inner person’ present in all embodied beings—as a source of protection and sustenance, emphasizing inward spiritual support rather than external power.
In Śānti Parva, Bhīṣma continues his instruction and reflections; here he utters a prayer-like benediction, calling upon the inner presences within living beings to guard and nourish him continually.