Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
अन्न ते वर्तयिष्यामि इतिहासं पुरातनम् । यथा रक्षा कृता पूर्व विपुलेन महात्मना
anna te vartayiṣyāmi itihāsaṃ purātanam | yathā rakṣā kṛtā pūrvaṃ vipulena mahātmanā ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Wahai yang terkasih, akan kuceritakan kepadamu sebuah kisah purba—bagaimana pada masa lampau, Vipula yang berhati luhur melindungi istri gurunya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Dharma is shown through protective responsibility and self-restraint: a noble person safeguards the vulnerable—especially the guru’s household—without selfish motive, treating protection as a sacred duty.
Bhishma introduces an old exemplary tale. He tells the listener that he will narrate how Vipula, renowned for virtue, once protected his teacher’s wife, setting up a moral illustration for the discussion that follows.