Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, 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 ||
Sinabi ni Śakra: “Kung kuskusin ng tao ang katawan gamit ang mga ugat na nakalaylay ng punong balete, pahiran ng pulbos na mustasa, at saka kumain ng lugaw na ṣaṣṭika na niluto sa gatas, siya’y napapalaya sa lahat ng kasalanan. Pakinggan pa ang isa pang lihim—isang aral na pinagbulay-bulayan ng mga rishi. Narinig ko ito mula sa bibig ni Bṛhaspati, na binigkas sa harap ni Sthāṇu (Śiva).”
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.