Shloka 16
Strī-satkāra (On honoring women) — Mahābhārata 13.46
रक्षिता च त्वया पुत्र मम चापि निवेदिता । अहं ते प्रीतिमांस्तात स्वस्थ: स्वर्ग गमिष्यसि
rakṣitā ca tvayā putra mama cāpi niveditā | ahaṃ te prītimāṃs tāta svasthaḥ svarga gamiṣyasi ||
विपुल म्हणाला— “पुत्रा! तू तिचे रक्षण केलेस आणि तिला विधिपूर्वक मला परत दिलेस. तात, मी तुझ्यावर अत्यंत प्रसन्न आहे. स्वस्थ राहून प्रस्थान कर; तू स्वर्गाला जाशील.”
विपुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting another—especially one entrusted to one’s care—and returning them safely is a dharmic act that earns gratitude and spiritual merit; such righteous conduct is praised as leading to auspicious destiny (svarga).
Vipula addresses a younger person as ‘son,’ acknowledging that a woman (implied by the feminine ‘rakṣitā’) has been safeguarded and returned to him. He expresses heartfelt approval and blesses the addressee with peace and the promise of attaining heaven.