Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
इति निश्चित्य मनसा रक्षां प्रति स भार्गव: । अन्वतिष्ठत् परं यत्नं यथा तच्छृणु पार्थिव
iti niścitya manasā rakṣāṃ prati sa bhārgavaḥ | anvatīṣṭhat paraṃ yatnaṃ yathā tac chṛṇu pārthiva pṛthvīnātha |
Bhishma dit : «Ayant ainsi arrêté dans son esprit ce qui concernait la protection, ce Bhargava entreprit l’effort le plus extrême. Comment il s’y prit—écoute, ô roi, seigneur de la terre.»
भीष्म उवाच
The verse highlights ethical resolve: after careful inner determination about safeguarding what must be protected, one should pursue the highest effort. It frames protection (rakṣā) as a dharmic duty requiring firm decision (niścaya) and sustained exertion (yatna).
Bhishma addresses the king and transitions the story: he says that the Bhargava, having decided on a course of action concerning protection, undertook great effort, and Bhishma now invites the king to listen to how that effort unfolded.