Shloka 17
Puruṣaikatva-vyākhyāna: The One Virāṭ Puruṣa and the Many ‘Puruṣas’
Rudra–Brahmā Saṃvāda
(विरुद्ध वेदसूत्राणामुक्त यदि भवेन्नूप । वयं विरुद्धवचना यदि तत्र पतामहे ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | viruddha-veda-sūtrāṇām uktaṃ yadi bhaven nṛpa | vayaṃ viruddha-vacanā yadi tatra patāmahe || tataḥ tasmin muhūrte ’tha rājoparicaras tadā | adho vai sambabhūvāśu bhūme vivara-go nṛpa rājann ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “O hari! Kung ang sinabi mo ay salungat sa mga Veda at sa mga Sūtra, nawa’y magkabisa ang aming sumpa; ngunit kung kami ang nagsasalita laban sa mga kasulatan, nawa’y kami ang bumagsak sa aming katayuan.” Pagkasabi nito ng mga pantas, sa sandaling iyon din ay mabilis na bumaba mula sa langit si Haring Uparichara at agad na pumasok sa isang bitak ng lupa.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage teaches that claims and judgments must be measured against established sacred authority (Veda and sūtra). Ethical confidence is shown by accepting consequences: if one is wrong against dharma, one should be ready to bear the fall; if the other is wrong, the curse rightly applies.
A challenge is framed: if the king’s statement is anti-scriptural, the sages’ curse should stand; if the sages are anti-scriptural, they should fall. Immediately after this pronouncement, King Uparichara descends from the sky and enters a cleft in the earth, signaling that the verdict has taken effect.