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 ||
毗湿摩说道：“大王啊！若你所言违背吠陀与诸经则（Sūtra），则愿我等诅咒必然应验；但若是我等所言反而违背圣典，则愿我等自取沉沦。”诸仙言毕，就在那一瞬间，优波利遮罗王迅疾自空中坠下，立刻没入大地裂隙之中。
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.