Shloka 39
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें स््रियोंके स््वभावका वर्णनविषयक उनतालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,तस्माद् विपुल यत्नेन रक्षेमां तनुमध्यमाम् | यथा रुचिं नावलिहेद् देवेन्द्रो भूगुसत्तम
tasmād vipula-yatnena rakṣemāṃ tanumadhyamām | yathā ruciṃ nāvalihyed devendro bhṛgusattama ||
Ainsi donc, ô le meilleur des Bhṛgu, c’est avec un effort immense qu’il faut protéger cette femme à la taille fine, afin qu’Indra, seigneur des dieux, ne s’approche pas d’elle selon son bon plaisir (c’est‑à‑dire qu’il ne la viole pas à sa guise).
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses vigilant protection of women and restraint against predatory desire, using even Indra as a cautionary example—implying that power does not justify transgression and that dharma requires safeguarding the vulnerable.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Bhṛgu-descended sage, concluding a discussion on women’s nature and conduct; he draws a moral that one must carefully guard a woman so that even a powerful figure like Indra does not act upon her according to mere whim.