Shloka 64
तीर्थवंशोपदेशः
Tīrtha-vaṃśa Upadeśa: Instruction on the Fruits of Sacred Waters
अनाथां प्रमदां बालां वृद्धां भीतां तपस्विनीम् । वज्चयन्ति नरा ये च ते वै निरयगामिन:,जो लोग अनाथ, बूढ़ी, तरुणी, बालिका, भयभीत और तपस्विनी स्त्रियोंको धोखेमें डालते हैं, वे निश्चय ही नरकगामी होते हैं
anāthāṃ pramadāṃ bālāṃ vṛddhāṃ bhītāṃ tapasvinīm | vañcayanti narā ye ca te vai nirayagāminaḥ ||
Bhishma declares that men who deceive or exploit women who are without protection—whether young, aged, innocent, fearful, or devoted to ascetic practice—inevitably incur grave sin and are destined for hell.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Deceiving or exploiting women who are unprotected or vulnerable—such as the helpless, the young, the aged, the fearful, or female ascetics—is a serious adharma. Bhishma states that such conduct leads to severe karmic consequence, described here as a hell-bound destiny.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma instructs Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he emphasizes moral accountability by condemning those who take advantage of vulnerable women, presenting it as a punishable transgression with inevitable consequences.