Shloka 2
Strī-satkāra (On honoring women) — Mahābhārata 13.46
देवशर्मोवाच कि ते विपुल दृष्टं वै तस्मिन् शिष्य महावने । ते त्वां जानन्ति विपुल आत्मा च रुचिरेव च,देवशर्माने पूछा--मेरे प्रिय शिष्य विपुल! तुमने उस महान् वनमें क्या देखा था? वे लोग तो तुम्हें जानते हैं। उन्हें तुम्हारी अन्तरात्माका तथा मेरी पत्नी रुचिका भी पूरा परिचय प्राप्त है
devadharma uvāca: kiṃ te vipula dṛṣṭaṃ vai tasmin śiṣya mahāvane? te tvāṃ jānanti, vipula; ātmā ca rucirā eva ca.
Devaśarmā berkata: “Vipula, muridku yang dikasihi, apakah yang benar-benar engkau lihat di rimba besar itu? Mereka itu sudah mengenalmu baik, wahai Vipula; mereka juga mengetahui sifat batinmu, dan Rucirā juga.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights ethical accountability rooted in known character: one’s inner disposition (ātmā) and relationships are recognized by society, so conduct should align with dharma even when away from home (e.g., in the forest).
Devadharma addresses his disciple Vipula, asking what he witnessed in a great forest, while noting that the people there already know Vipula and are familiar with his inner nature and with Rucirā.