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 ||
释迦罗说道：“若以榕树垂根摩擦其身，复以芥子粉作涂身之膏，而以乳煮ṣaṣṭika稻米为甜粥而食，则能脱离一切罪垢。且再听另一秘要——诸仙所深思之隐密教言。我曾从布里哈斯帕提之口得闻，此言是在斯塔努（湿婆）之前所说。”
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.