Shloka 54
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
इत्येवं धर्ममालोक्य वेदवेदांश्व सर्वश: । तपश्च विपुलं दृष्टवा गुरोरात्मन एव च
ity evaṁ dharmam ālokya vedavedāṁś ca sarvaśaḥ | tapaś ca vipulaṁ dṛṣṭvā guror ātman eva ca, pṛthvīnātha |
Bhishma said: “Thus, O lord of the earth, having surveyed dharma, having thoroughly reflected on the Vedas and their ancillary disciplines, and having considered the abundant austerities of both his teacher and himself, the Bhrigu-descended Vipula resolved in his mind upon the aforesaid means to protect his teacher’s wife. Now listen as I relate the great effort he then undertook.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Ethical action should be grounded in a careful examination of dharma and informed by sacred learning; when protecting what is entrusted to one (especially the guru’s household), one must act with disciplined resolve, guided by tapas and thoughtful deliberation rather than impulse.
Bhishma transitions into describing Vipula’s decisive plan and strenuous effort to safeguard his teacher’s wife. The verse frames Vipula’s decision as the result of reviewing dharma, consulting Vedic knowledge, and weighing the spiritual power (tapas) of both guru and disciple.