Shloka 9
अक्षहृदय-विद्या-प्रदानम्
Transmission of Akṣa-hṛdaya; Kali’s Exit and the Bibhītaka Refuge
रहिता भर्तभिश्चैव न कुप्यन्ति कदाचन । प्राणांश्वारित्रकवचान् धारयन्ति वरस्त्रिय:,'श्रेष्ठ नारियाँ अपने पतियोंसे परित्यक्त होनेपर भी कभी क्रोध नहीं करतीं। वे सदाचाररूपी कवचसे आवृत प्राणोंको धारण करती हैं
rahitā bhartṛbhiś caiva na kupyanti kadācana | prāṇān vāritrakavacān dhārayanti varastriyaḥ ||
Bṛhadaśva berkata: “Walaupun ditinggalkan oleh suami, wanita mulia tidak pernah marah. Dilindungi oleh perisai tata susila, mereka memelihara nyawa mereka—teguh dalam pengendalian diri dan kebajikan.”
बृहदश्च उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises kṣamā (forbearance) and sadācāra (good conduct) as a protective ‘armor’: true nobility is shown by restraint and ethical steadiness even under personal injury such as abandonment.
Bṛhadaśva is speaking in the Vana Parva and offers a moral observation about exemplary women: despite being left by their husbands, they do not succumb to anger, but sustain themselves through disciplined conduct and inner control.