Shloka 8
Vipula’s Yogic Protection of the Guru’s Household (विपुलस्य योगरक्षा / Vipulasya Yogarakṣā)
विदितास्ते स्त्रियो याश्व॒ यादृशा श्व॒ स््वभावत: । न मामहसि देवर्षे नियोक्तुं कार्य ईदृशे
Bhīṣma uvāca: viditās te striyo yāś ca yādṛśāś ca svabhāvataḥ | na mām arhasi devarṣe niyoktuṁ kārya īdṛśe ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า—“โอ้เทวฤๅษี ท่านย่อมรู้ดีอยู่แล้วว่าสตรีในโลกนี้เป็นเช่นไร และมีสันดานโดยธรรมชาติอย่างไร เพราะฉะนั้นอย่าได้มอบหมายให้ข้าพเจ้าทำกิจเช่นนี้เลย”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma appeals to the seer’s prior knowledge of worldly human dispositions and argues that, given the ethical and practical complications involved, he should not be compelled or assigned to a delicate task. The emphasis is on prudence and moral responsibility in assigning duties.
Bhishma is responding to a divine seer and declines an assignment, stating that the seer already understands the nature and tendencies of women in worldly life; therefore, the seer should not press Bhishma into undertaking such a matter.