अत्रिर॒वाच कथं रक्षामि भवतस्ते<ब्रुवंश्वन्द्रमा भव । तिमिरघ्नश्न सविता दस्युहन्ता च नो भव
atrir uvāca: kathaṁ rakṣāmi bhavatas te? bruvan: candramā bhava; timiraghnaś ca savitā, dasyuhantā ca no bhava.
Atri berkata, “Bagaimana aku melindungi kalian?” Para dewa menjawab, “Jadilah Bulan; jadilah pula Matahari yang melenyapkan kegelapan. Demi kami, jadilah pembunuh para musuh yang merajalela—para raksasa yang bagai perampok itu.”
भीष्म उवाच
Protection of the righteous may require assuming a role that dispels ignorance and fear (symbolized by darkness) and actively restrains destructive forces; ethical guardianship is both illuminating (guiding) and corrective (removing harm).
Atri asks how he can safeguard the gods; they instruct him to take on the functions of the Moon and the Sun—dispelling darkness—and to destroy the hostile marauders/demonic enemies threatening them.