Shloka 188
Adhyāya 284: Tapas as a Corrective to Household Attachment
Parāśara’s Instruction
अपूर्व सर्वतोभद्रं सर्वतोमुखमव्ययम् | अब्दैर्दशाहसंयुक्तं गूढमप्राज्ञनिन्दितम्
apūrvaṁ sarvatobhadraṁ sarvatomukham avyayam | abdair daśāha-saṁyuktaṁ gūḍham aprājña-ninditam ||
毗湿摩说道：“往昔我曾宣示一项名为‘帕舒帕塔誓戒（Pāśupata）’的神圣行持，前所未有。无论在修持之法，还是在证得之果，于一切境况之中皆能普遍成就吉祥；它‘面向四方’，适合一切种姓与人生四住期（āśrama），又因其为趋向解脱之戒行，故不坏不灭。此誓戒须以长久不断的福德修习，并修炼制戒与行戒的十种法门而得。其义理幽深隐密；愚昧之人反而讥毁它。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
A genuinely liberating religious discipline may be universally applicable and deeply beneficial, yet remain subtle and easily misunderstood; therefore it is often criticized by the undiscerning. True practice requires sustained merit and disciplined ethical-spiritual training (the ‘tenfold’ restraints/observances).
In Bhīṣma’s instruction during the Śānti Parva, he describes an ancient, profound observance—the Pāśupata vow—praising its universal suitability and imperishable spiritual value, while noting that ignorant people tend to disparage what they do not understand.