
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
Upa-parva: Strī-dharma / Itihāsa of Vipula and Ruci (Bhīṣma’s illustrative discourse)
Bhīṣma affirms Yudhiṣṭhira’s premise and announces an ancient itihāsa on how protection was once undertaken by the noble Vipula. The discourse begins with a mythic rationale: women are described through a polemical catalog of dangers, and the gods—fearing humans might attain divinity—approach the Creator; Prajāpati introduces elements that lead beings into desire and anger, and a normative claim is made that women are difficult to restrain by ordinary means. The narrative then shifts to the household of Ṛṣi Devaśarmā and his exceptionally beautiful wife Ruci, whose beauty attracts celestial attention, especially Indra. Knowing Indra’s inclination toward others’ spouses and his capacity for extensive disguise, Devaśarmā instructs his disciple Vipula to guard Ruci while he departs for a sacrifice, detailing Indra’s protean forms across social types, ages, colors, and even animals and insects. Vipula, recognizing that physical guarding cannot counter such māyā, resolves to protect Ruci through yogic entry into her body—remaining internally present yet non-interfering—so that no external approach can succeed and no impropriety is incurred. He executes this meditative strategy and maintains protection until the guru’s return (the episode continues beyond the chapter boundary).
Chapter Arc: Yudhiṣṭhira, intent on giving without harm, asks Bhīṣma a pointed question: what makes a person truly a ‘pātra’—a worthy vessel for charity—especially when the seeker is unknown, long-unseen, or has come from far away? → Bhīṣma answers by shifting the focus from mere impulse to disciplined discernment: some practice a quiet, inward vow of giving—‘whoever asks, I give’—yet even generosity must not become a cause of suffering, especially when one’s dependents and household are strained. The tension grows between universal giving and responsible stewardship. → The decisive teaching lands: the wise recognize as worthy those who are unfamiliar (apūrva), long absent (ciroṣita), or distant travelers (dūrād abhyāgata)—but only when the gift does not lead to regret or harm. Yudhiṣṭhira’s criterion—‘so that, having given, one does not burn with remorse’—becomes the chapter’s moral fulcrum. → Bhīṣma enumerates the honored circle of recipients—ṛtviks, purohitas, ācāryas, learned and non-envious persons, and those bound by the sacred ties of teaching, kinship, and service—while warning that those of contrary conduct and disposition are not fit for honor. The householder, acting with purity and good training, sustains dharma through such measured giving.
Verse 1
: सप्तत्रिशो5्ध्याय: दानपात्रकी परीक्षा युधिषछ्िर उवाच अपूर्वश्च भवेत् पात्रमथवापि चिरोषित: । दूरादभ्यागतं चापि किं पात्र स््थात् पितामह
由提施提罗说道:“祖父啊,何人当被视为受施之可器?是施者素未相识之人,还是久与同居之人,抑或自远方国土而来之客?此三者之中,谁才是真正最上之布施之器?”
Verse 2
भीष्म उवाच क्रिया भवति केषांचिदुपांशुव्रतमुत्तमम् । यो यो याचेत यत् किज्चित् सर्व दद्याम इत्यपि
毗湿摩曰:“噢,由提施提罗!有人以诸般行事为志业——如祭祀之务、奉师之礼(师资供养)、以及养护家室——皆为其所择之道。亦有人以近乎默然的克制之誓(低声持戒)为最高修持。故凡有乞者求何物,当以此心答之:‘我当施与’——不可使一人怀失望而去。”
Verse 3
अपीडयन् भूत्यवर्गमित्येवमनुशुश्रुम । पीडयन् भृत्यवर्ग हि आत्मानमपकर्षति
毗湿摩曰:“我等如是闻:施与之时,当不令所养之人受苦。若有人为行布施而虐待家眷与依附者——夺其所需,使其受饥受苦——则实乃自贬其身,自取沉沦。”
Verse 4
अपूर्व भावयेत् पात्र यच्चापि स्याच्चिरोषितम् । दूरादभ्यागतं चापि तत्पात्रं च विदुर्बुधा:
毗湿摩曰:“从此义而观,素不相识者、久居相伴者、以及自远方而来者——此三者,智者皆知为可受施之器(受施之人)。”
Verse 5
युधिछिर उवाच अपीडया च भूतानां धर्मस्याहिंसया तथा । पात्र विद्यात् तु तत्त्वेन यस्मै दत्त न संतपेत्
尤提士提罗说道:“噢,祖父!布施应当使任何有情都不受痛苦,并且不妨碍正法——也就是与不害(阿希姆萨)相应。然而,如何才能如实知晓谁才是堪受之人,使已施之物不至于日后成为悔恨的缘由?”
Verse 6
भीष्म उवाच ऋतच्विक् पुरोहिताचार्या: शिष्यसम्बन्धिबान्धवा: । सर्वे पूज्याश्व मान्याश्व श्रुतवन्तो5नसूयका:
毗湿摩说道:“孩子啊,主持祭仪的祭官(ṛtvij)、家祭司(purohita)与诸师长;同样,弟子、亲族与宗亲——凡有学识而不以挑剔过失为乐者——皆当受敬奉与尊重。”
Verse 7
अतोडन्यथा वर्तमाना: सर्वे नाहन्ति सत्क्रियाम् । तस्मान्नित्यं परीक्षेत पुरुषान् प्रणिधाय वै
毗湿摩说道:“凡行止乖违、缺乏应有的克制与纪律者,皆不能护持真正的善行。因此,在托付信任或责任之前,应当常常审察众人,以警觉专注之心观之。”
Verse 8
इनसे भिन्न प्रकारके तथा भिन्न बर्ताववाले जो लोग हैं, वे सब सत्कारके पात्र नहीं हैं; अतः एकाग्रचित्त होकर प्रतिदिन सुपात्र पुरुषोंकी परीक्षा करनी चाहिये ।।
毗湿摩说道:“噢,婆罗多啊,品类与行止迥异之人,并非都配受礼敬;因此当以专注之心,日日考察谁才是真正的堪受者。无嗔、真实语、不害、自制、质直、无恶意、谦卑、知耻、忍耐、纪律与内心寂静——若这些德性自然显现于其人,而不见任何违背正法之行——唯此等人,方为布施之上器,亦当受尊敬。”
Verse 9
यस्मिन्नेतानि दृश्यन्ते न चाकार्याणि भारत । स्वभावतो निविष्टानि तत्पात्रं मानमरहति
毗湿摩说道:“噢,婆罗多啊,凡见具此诸德,而不见其有任何不义之行——这些德性自然而然安住于其性情之中——此人便是堪受之器,配受供施,亦当受敬。其德为:无嗔、真实语、不害、摄诸根、质直、无恶意、无我慢、知耻、忍耐、自制与制心。”
Verse 10
तथा चिरोषितं चापि सम्प्रत्यागतमेव च । अपूर्व चैव पूर्व च तत्पात्रं मानमहति
毗湿摩说道:无论此人曾与我久居相伴,或是方才自他处而来;无论旧识或全然陌生——皆当以赠礼相迎,致以恭敬之礼。
Verse 11
अप्रामाण्यं च वेदानां शास्त्राणां चाभिलड्घनम् । अव्यवस्था च सर्वत्र एतान्नाशनमात्मन:
毗湿摩说道:轻蔑吠陀之权威,违越诸论典(śāstra)之戒命,并在四方散布无序——此皆为自取灭亡之因。
Verse 12
भवेत् पण्डितमानी यो ब्राह्मणो वेदनिन्दक: । आन्वीक्षिकीं तर्कविद्यामनुरक्तो निरर्थिकाम्
毗湿摩说道:若有婆罗门自恃学识而骄矜,诋毁吠陀,又沉溺于徒然的阿那毗迦史迦(ānvīkṣikī)——无益的逻辑争辩——当视之为不可亲近之人。智者以其如犬。
Verse 13
हेतुवादान् ब्रुवन् सत्सु विजेताहेतुवादिक: । आक्रोष्टा चातिवक्ता च ब्राह्मणानां सदैव हि
毗湿摩说道:在善人之会中,若有人只吐出争辩之辞,以诡辩取胜;又喧嚷辱骂,言语放纵无度——尤其对婆罗门更是如此——此人当视为社会之不净者。智者以其如犬。
Verse 14
सर्वाभिशड्की मूढश्ष बाल: कटुकवागपि । बोद्धव्यस्तादृशस्तात नर श्वानं हि त॑ं विदु:
毗湿摩说道:“那疑尽众人、愚迷昏乱、行若稚子、言辞刻薄之人——亲爱的,当识其本相。智者视之不逾犬类。”
Verse 15
यथा श्वा भषितुं चैव हन्तुं चैवावसज्जते । एवं सम्भाषणार्थाय सर्वशास्त्रवधाय च
毗湿摩说道:“正如狗靠近是为了狂吠与撕咬,那样的人也四处游走——只为争辩,并欲摧毁(驳倒)一切圣典(śāstra)。此等之人,不堪受施。”
Verse 16
लोकयात्रा च द्रष्टव्या धर्मशक्षात्महितानि च । एवं नरो वर्तमान: शाश्षतीर्वर्धती समा:
毗湿摩说道:“当观世间真实的运转——人们如何生活、如何处置事务;亦当省思达摩与成就自身真实福祉之道。如此而行者,岁月流转,必能稳步增长于长久的兴盛与安乐。”
Verse 17
ऋणमुन्मुच्य देवानामृषीणां च तथैव च । 8 ॥ विप्राणामतिथीनां च पठचमम्
毗湿摩阐明:居家者(gṛhastha)当自觉偿尽生命圣序中的“诸债”:以祭祀与供奉偿诸天之债;以研习吠陀(svādhyāya)偿诸仙圣之债;以生育贤良子嗣并行施食祭(śrāddha)偿祖先之债;以布施偿婆罗门之债;以礼敬款待偿宾客之债。能如是尽责,并以清净与谦恭奉行经典所命之行者,在居家之道中不致背离达摩。
Verse 18
विशुद्धेन सुविनीतेन कर्मणा । एवं गृहस्थ: कर्माणि कुर्वन् धर्मान्न हीयते
毗湿摩说道:“以清净而有纪律的行为,居家者(gṛhastha)履行其分内之事,便不致失落达摩。依其先后次第,他得以解脱诸债:以祭祀与供奉偿诸天之债;以研习吠陀(svādhyāya)偿诸仙圣之债;以生育贤良之子并行施食祭(śrāddha)偿祖先之债;以布施偿婆罗门之债;以礼敬款待偿宾客之债。以愈加清净、愈加谦恭之心奉行经典所命之行,如此的居家者永不偏离正道。”
Verse 36
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्ाभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें ब्राह्मणकी प्रशंसाके प्रसंगमें इन्द्र और शग्बरायुरका संवादविषयक छत्तीयवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
至此,《圣摩诃婆罗多》之《教诫篇》(Anuśāsana Parva)中,论“施与之法”(布施之达摩)一节,于赞颂婆罗门之语境下——其题为因陀罗与商婆罗优(Śaṅbarāyu)对话者——第三十六章圆满终了。
Verse 37
इति श्रीमहाभारते अनुशासनपर्वणि दानधर्मपर्वणि पात्रपरीक्षायां सप्तत्रिंशो ध्याय:,इस प्रकार श्रीमहाभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें पात्रकी परीक्षाविषयक सैंतीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ
如是,在《圣摩诃婆罗多》中,于《阿努沙萨那篇》(Anuśāsana Parvan)之内——尤在论施舍之法(布施之法)的章节中——关于甄别堪受施者的第三十七章至此终了。此结语(章末题记)标明本段落圆满完成,并昭示:唯有将施舍施与真正当受之人,慈施方能结成合乎正法的果报。
Vipula must fulfill the guru’s command to protect Ruci despite Indra’s near-untraceable disguises; the dilemma is how to prevent wrongdoing without resorting to coercion or actions that could themselves become ethically compromising.
The chapter emphasizes that deception-driven threats cannot always be met by external force; sustained vigilance and disciplined inner restraint (supported here by yogic control) are presented as more reliable safeguards in ethically volatile situations.
No explicit phalaśruti appears in this chapter’s verses; its meta-function is didactic—an illustrative itihāsa embedded within Bhīṣma’s instruction to contextualize dharma as practical risk-management under māyā and desire.