Shloka 43
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
मायावी हि सुरेन्द्रो सौ दुर्धर्षश्षापि वीर्यवान् । उन्होंने मन-ही-मन सोचा, “मैं गुरुपत्नीकी रक्षाके लिये क्या कर सकता हूँ, क्योंकि वह देवराज इन्द्र मायावी होनेके साथ ही बड़ा दुर्धर्ष और पराक्रमी है ।।
māyāvī hi surendro ’sau durdharṣaś cāpi vīryavān | (iti manasā cintayām āsa) “ahaṃ guru-patnyā rakṣāyai kiṃ kartum śaknomi, yasmād devarāja indro māyāvī ca mahā-durdharṣaḥ parākramī ca” || nāpi dhāyāśramaṃ śakyo rakṣituṃ pākaśāsanaḥ ||
Ia berpikir dalam hati: “Indra, raja para dewa itu, sungguh mahir dalam tipu daya—sukar ditandingi dan besar kesaktiannya. Bahkan berlindung di sebuah āśrama pun tak sungguh-sungguh dapat memberi keselamatan dari Pākaśāsana (Indra).”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic tension: the duty to protect the guru’s wife is paramount, yet one must realistically assess one’s capacity when facing overwhelming power (Indra’s māyā and might). It underscores humility, discernment, and the seriousness of obligations connected to the guru.
Bhishma reports an inner reflection: Indra is formidable and deceptive, so the speaker wonders how protection of the guru’s wife can be ensured. The line about the āśrama suggests that even sacred refuge may not guarantee safety against Indra’s reach.