Shloka 17
Vipulopākhyāna—Ruci-rakṣā and Śakra’s Māyā (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—रुचिरक्षणं शक्रमाया च)
ऋणमुन्मुच्य देवानामृषीणां च तथैव च । 8 ॥ विप्राणामतिथीनां च पठचमम्
ṛṇam unmucya devānām ṛṣīṇāṁ ca tathaiva ca | viprāṇām atithīnāṁ ca ||
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。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A householder preserves dharma by repaying fundamental obligations—through worship/sacrifice, Vedic study, generosity, and hospitality—performed with purity and humility.
In Bhīṣma’s instruction on dharma (Anuśāsana Parva), he outlines the householder’s ethical-religious responsibilities, framing them as ‘debts’ that must be discharged to sustain social and cosmic order.