Shloka 8
अक्षहृदय-विद्या-प्रदानम्
Transmission of Akṣa-hṛdaya; Kali’s Exit and the Bibhītaka Refuge
वैषम्यमपि सम्प्राप्ता गोपायन्ति कुलस्त्रिय: । आत्मानमात्मना सत्यो जित: स्वर्गों न संशय:,“उत्तम कुलकी स्त्रियाँ बड़े भारी संकटमें पड़कर भी स्वयं अपनी रक्षा करती हैं। ऐसा करके वे सत्य और स्वर्ग दोनोंपर विजय पा लेती हैं, इसमें संशय नहीं है
vaiṣamyam api samprāptā gopāyanti kulastriyaḥ | ātmānam ātmanā satyo jitaḥ svargo na saṁśayaḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva said: “Even when overtaken by grave adversity, women of noble lineage protect themselves. By such self-guarding, truthfulness is upheld and heaven is won—of this there is no doubt.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse links personal self-guarding in times of crisis with dharmic integrity: maintaining one’s honor and safety through one’s own resolve is presented as a form of satya (truthfulness/integrity) that leads to spiritual merit, symbolized by attaining Svarga.
Bṛhadaśva is offering a moral observation within his discourse: he praises the steadfastness of noble women who, even under severe danger, preserve themselves and their integrity, and he frames this as a virtuous act with assured reward.