Shloka 18
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
विशेषेण तु राजेन्द्र वत्रहा पाकशासन: । उसका रूप देखकर देवता, गन्धर्व और दानव भी मतवाले हो जाते थे। राजेन्द्र! वृत्रासुरका वध करनेवाले पाकशासन इन्द्र उस स्त्रीपर विशेषरूपसे आसक्त थे ।।
viśeṣeṇa tu rājendra vṛtrahā pākaśāsanaḥ | tasyā rūpaṃ dṛṣṭvā devatā gandharvāś ca dānavāś ca matta-bhāvam āpadyante sma | rājendra vṛtrāsura-vadha-kartā pākaśāsana indras tasyāṃ striyāṃ viśeṣata āsakta āsīt || nārīṇāṃ carita-jñaś ca devaśarmā mahāmuniḥ |
Bhīṣma disse: «Ó rei, Pākaśāsana Indra —o matador de Vṛtra— estava especialmente apegado àquela mulher. Ao verem a sua beleza, até os deuses, os Gandharvas e os Dānavas se embriagavam de desejo. Assim, ó melhor dos reis, Indra, célebre por ter abatido Vṛtrāsura, foi atraído por ela de modo evidente. E Devaśarmā, o grande sábio, era alguém que compreendia os modos e a conduta das mulheres.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Even the mightiest—Indra himself—can be overpowered by attraction; therefore dharma requires vigilance, restraint, and discernment, especially for rulers whose lapses can have wider consequences.
Bhīṣma describes a woman whose beauty overwhelms even celestial beings, emphasizing that Indra (Vṛtra’s slayer) became particularly attached to her, and he introduces Devaśarmā as a sage knowledgeable about women’s conduct, setting up further counsel or exemplum.