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

Bhīṣma said: Having thoughtfully considered in his mind the proper means of protection, that great ascetic proceeded with deliberate care—showing that safeguarding others should be guided by reflection, discipline, and righteous intent rather than impulse.

Word by Word

• रक्षाविधानम्: arrangement/procedure of protection
• रक्षाविधानम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षा-विधान
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• मनसा: with the mind
• मनसा: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनस्
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• संचिन्त्य: having reflected/considered
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-चिन्त्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral for gerund)

• महातपाः: the great ascetic (of great austerity)
• महातपाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: महातपस्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhīṣma

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.