Shloka 19
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं भार्या तामभ्यरक्षत | महामुनि देवशर्मा नारियोंके चरित्रको जानते थे; अतः वे यथाशक्ति उत्साहपूर्वक उसकी रक्षा करते थे ।। पुरन्दरं च जानीते परस्त्रीकामचारिणम्
yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ bhāryā tām abhyarakṣat | mahāmunir devaśarmā nārīṇāṃ ca caritraṃ jānīte; ataḥ sa yathāśakti utsāhapūrvakaṃ tasyā rakṣāṃ karoti sma || purandaraṃ ca jānīte parastrī-kāma-cāriṇam ||
Bhīṣma disse: «Conforme as suas forças e com plena determinação, o grande sábio Devaśarmā manteve vigilância constante sobre a esposa. Conhecendo bem os meandros e as fragilidades da conduta humana—sobretudo em assuntos que envolvem mulheres—protegia-a com toda a força e empenho de que era capaz. Ele também sabia que Purandara (Indra) é daqueles que vagueiam movidos pelo desejo pela esposa alheia.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the householder’s dharma of vigilant protection and responsible conduct: one should safeguard marital fidelity and social order with sincere effort, recognizing that even powerful beings may be driven by desire and thus become sources of temptation or danger.
Bhīṣma describes how the sage Devaśarmā, aware of the complexities of human behavior and mindful of Indra’s reputation for pursuing others’ wives, actively and earnestly guards his wife to prevent harm or transgression.