Shloka 18
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 47 — Janamejaya’s Sarpa-satra: Vow, Preparation, and the Onset of the Serpent Offering
कोपो वा धर्मशीलस्य धर्मलोपो5थवा पुनः । धर्मलोपो गरीयान् वै स्यादित्यत्राकरोन्मतिम्,'यदि इन्हें जगाऊँगी तो निश्चय ही इन्हें मुझपर क्रोध होगा और यदि सोते-सोते संध्योपासनका समय बीत गया तो अवश्य इनके धर्मका लोप हो जायगा, ऐसी दशामें धर्मात्मा पतिका कोप स्वीकार करूँ या उनके धर्मका लोप? इन दोनोंमें धर्मका लोप ही भारी जान पड़ता है।” अतः जिससे उनके धर्मका लोप न हो, वही कार्य करनेका उसने निश्चय किया
kopo vā dharmaśīlasya dharmalopo ’thavā punaḥ | dharmalopo garīyān vai syād ity atrākaron matim ||
She reflected: “If I wake this righteous man, he will surely be angry with me; but if the time for his twilight worship passes while he sleeps, his dharma will be impaired. In such a situation, should I accept my husband’s anger, or allow his dharma to lapse? Of the two, the lapse of dharma is the graver.” Therefore she resolved to do what would prevent any loss of his religious duty.
तक्षक उवाच