Shloka 28
Atithi’s Direction to the Nāga-sage Padma at Naimiṣa (अतिथ्युपदेशः—नैमिषे पद्मनागोपाख्यानप्रस्तावः)
विश्वरूपो हि वै त्वाष्ट्र: पुरोहितो देवानामासीत्
viśvarūpo hi vai tvāṣṭraḥ purohito devānām āsīt, svasrīyo 'surāṇāṃ sa pratyakṣaṃ devebhyo bhāgam adāt parokṣam asurebhyaḥ
阿周那说：“毗湿瓦鲁帕（Viśvarūpa），工巧神特瓦什特里（Tvaṣṭṛ）之子，曾为诸天之祭司（purohita）。因其母系与阿修罗有亲缘，他将祭祀之分明明白白地授予诸天，却只以迂回隐蔽之法把份额给了阿修罗。”
अजुन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical problem of divided allegiance: a priest entrusted with sacred duty should act with impartiality and transparency, yet kinship ties can lead to covert favoritism, undermining dharma in ritual and governance.
Arjuna recounts that Viśvarūpa, appointed as the gods’ priest, was also the Asuras’ nephew; therefore he distributed sacrificial portions openly to the gods while providing the Asuras’ share only indirectly, indicating a concealed dual service.