Shloka 47
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
गात्राणि गात्रैरस्याहं सम्प्रवेक्ष्ये हि रक्षितुम् यद्युच्छिष्टामिमां पत्नीमद्य पश्यति मे गुरु:
gātrāṇi gātrair asyāhaṃ sampravekṣye hi rakṣitum | yady ucchiṣṭām imāṃ patnīm adya paśyati me guruḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : «Pour la protéger, j’interposerais même mes propres membres contre les siens. Car si, aujourd’hui, mon vénérable aîné voyait que cette épouse a été laissée comme des “restes” — déshonorée et abandonnée — comment pourrais-je porter un tel blâme ?»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One must actively protect the vulnerable—even at personal risk—and uphold family and social dharma; allowing a woman to be dishonoured brings moral blame, especially before revered elders whose judgment embodies ethical accountability.
Bhīṣma declares his readiness to physically shield a woman by placing his own body between her and an aggressor, motivated by the fear of disgrace if his respected elder were to witness her being treated as ‘ucchiṣṭa’—abandoned and dishonoured.