Shloka 13
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
नतासां रक्षणं शक््यं कर्तु पुंसां कथंचन
natāsāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ śakyaṃ kartuṃ puṃsāṃ kathaṃcana
ビーシュマは言った。「いかなる仕方によっても、男たちが、降伏して他者の庇護に身を委ねた者を完全に守り抜くことはできぬ。この言葉は、厳しい倫理の真実を示す。すなわち、人の努力と善意だけでは、誰かが全き依存の身となったとき、その安全を保証しきれぬことが多い。ゆえに、驕りではなく、謙虚さと警戒、そして責任の自覚をもって行動すべきである。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that guaranteeing the safety of those who surrender and become dependent is not fully within human control; therefore, one must avoid arrogance, recognize limits, and treat the duty of protection as a grave moral responsibility requiring constant care.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is speaking in a didactic mode, reflecting on the practical and ethical realities of protection and guardianship—especially the heavy burden incurred when others entrust their safety to someone.