Shloka 46
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
बहुरूपो हि भगवान् श्रूयते पाकशासन: । सो<हं योगबलादेनां रक्षिष्ये पाकशासनात्
bahurūpo hi bhagavān śrūyate pākaśāsanaḥ | so 'haṃ yogabalād enāṃ rakṣiṣye pākaśāsanāt ||
भीष्म ने कहा—भगवान् पाकशासन (इन्द्र) बहुरूपी हैं, यह प्रसिद्ध है। इसलिए मैं योगबल के द्वारा इस स्त्री की पाकशासन से रक्षा करूँगा।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even against a powerful and elusive opponent, one should uphold one’s protective duty (rakṣā-dharma) by resorting to higher inner discipline—here, yogic power—rather than relying only on ordinary human effort.
Bhishma states that Indra, famed for taking many forms, is a difficult force to counter directly; therefore Bhishma resolves to protect ‘her’ by relying on yogic strength to ward off Indra’s interference.