Shloka 27
Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture
Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict
अनपायिभिरस्माभिर्गुप्तायाश्च गृहे प्रभो । कन्याया दूषणं पुम्भिर्दुष्प्रेक्ष्याया न विद्महे ॥ २७ ॥
anapāyibhir asmābhir guptāyāś ca gṛhe prabho kanyāyā dūṣaṇaṁ pumbhir duṣprekṣyāyā na vidmahe
“Wahai tuan, kami berkawal tanpa pernah meninggalkan pos; kami tidak mengerti bagaimana gadis yang terlindung di dalam istana, yang lelaki pun sukar melihatnya, boleh ternoda.”
The ācāryas explain that the word anapāyibhiḥ can mean either “never going away” or “never deluded.” Also, if we take the alternate reading duṣpreṣyāyāḥ instead of duṣprekṣyāyāḥ, the guards refer to Ūṣā as “she whose wicked girlfriend has been sent on a mission.”
FAQs
This verse shows the traditional duty of guardianship—elders and attendants are expected to keep a maiden protected and not exposed to improper attention, treating her dignity as a serious dharmic responsibility.
In the narrative surrounding Uṣā and Aniruddha, the guards report to their lord that they had maintained strict protection, and they are bewildered at how any man could have entered and caused a breach despite their vigilance.
Do your entrusted duties carefully and create safe, respectful environments—especially for those under your care—while recognizing that unexpected lapses can still occur and should be investigated responsibly.