Shloka 14
Strī-satkāra (On honoring women) — Mahābhārata 13.46
द्विजश्रेष्ठ! यदि मैं इस कर्ममें तुम्हारा दुराचार देखता तो कुपित होकर तुम्हें शाप दे देता और ऐसा करके मेरे मनमें कोई अन्यथा विचार या पश्चात्ताप नहीं होता
Dvijaśreṣṭha! yadi mayi asmin karmani tava durācāraṃ paśyeyam, tarhi kupitaḥ san tvāṃ śāpaṃ dadyām; evaṃ kṛtvā ca mama manasi nānyathā-vicāro na paścāt-tāpo 'bhaviṣyat.
“Ó o melhor entre os duas-vezes-nascidos! Se, neste assunto, eu visse qualquer má conduta de tua parte, irado eu te amaldiçoaria. E, tendo feito isso, não haveria em minha mente qualquer hesitação ou remorso.”
विपुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Moral authority (especially that of a brāhmaṇa) is portrayed as inseparable from ethical scrutiny: wrongdoing in a sacred or serious undertaking warrants decisive censure, and the speaker emphasizes unwavering responsibility for such judgment—without later rationalization or regret.
Vipula addresses a respected brāhmaṇa, warning that if he were to witness improper conduct in the matter under discussion, he would angrily pronounce a curse, and would not later feel doubt or remorse about having done so.