Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 11
Brāhmaṇa-pūjā and Namaskāra: Criteria of Reverence and Non-Offense (ब्राह्मणपूजा-नमस्कारविधिः)
येषामेतानि तिष्ठन्ति गृहेषु गृहमेधिनाम् । तान्यधृष्याण्यगाराणि पिशिताशै: सुदारुणै:
bhīṣma uvāca | yeṣām etāni tiṣṭhanti gṛheṣu gṛhamedhinām | tāny adhṛṣyāṇy agārāṇi piśitāśaiḥ sudāruṇaiḥ ||
भीष्म ने कहा— जिन गृहस्थों के घरों में ये सब वस्तुएँ विधिपूर्वक रखी और निभाई जाती हैं, उनके वे घर अभेद्य हो जाते हैं; अत्यन्त भयंकर मांसभक्षी निशाचर भी उन पर आक्रमण नहीं करते।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma teaches that a householder’s disciplined maintenance of prescribed domestic observances makes the home ‘adhṛṣya’—secure against harmful, predatory forces. The ethical point is that ordered, dharmic household life is itself a form of protection.
Bhishma continues instructing Yudhishthira in Anushasana Parva on householder duties and auspicious safeguards, stating that homes where certain specified items/rites are present are not attacked by fierce flesh-eating night-roamers.