Shloka 231

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

रक्षाविधानं मनसा स संचिन्त्य महातपा:

Transliteration

rakṣāvidhānaṃ manasā sa sañcintya mahātapāḥ

Translation

Bhishma sagte: Nachdem jener große Asket in seinem Geist die rechten Mittel des Schutzes erwogen hatte, ging er mit bedachter Umsicht vor—und zeigte damit, dass das Behüten anderer von Überlegung, Disziplin und rechtschaffener Absicht geleitet sein soll, nicht vom Impuls.

Word by Word

रक्षाविधानम्arrangement/procedure of protection

मनसाwith the mind

सःhe

संचिन्त्यhaving reflected/considered

महातपाःthe great ascetic (of great austerity)

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhīṣma

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Protection (rakṣā) should be planned with thoughtful deliberation (sañcintya manasā) and grounded in disciplined, dharmic intent—implying that ethical safeguarding requires foresight and self-restraint.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhīṣma describes a figure characterized as a great ascetic (mahātapāḥ) who first reflects on the appropriate protective arrangement (rakṣāvidhāna) before acting, emphasizing careful planning in matters of security and duty.