Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 223
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
यतः प्रार्थयते नित्यं तां रक्षस्व यथाबलम् । देवशर्मा बोले--वत्स! मैं यज्ञ करनेके लिये जाऊँगा। तुम मेरी इस पत्नी रुचिकी यत्नपूर्वक रक्षा करना; क्योंकि देवराज इन्द्र सदा इसे प्राप्त करनेकी चेष्टामें लगा रहता है
yataḥ prārthayate nityaṃ tāṃ rakṣasva yathābalam |
Wika ni Bhishma: “Yamang lagi’t lagi niya siyang hinahangad, ingatan mo siya ayon sa iyong makakaya.” Sa salaysay, inutusan ni Devasharmā ang kanyang anak bago umalis upang magsagawa ng yajña: “Anak ko, tutungo ako upang magsagawa ng yajña. Bantayan mong mabuti ang aking asawang si Rucikī; sapagkat si Indra, hari ng mga diyos, ay laging nagsisikap na angkinin siya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One should uphold dharma by protecting those under one’s care—especially family—according to one’s capacity (yathābalam), remaining vigilant when desire and power attempt to violate moral order.
Devasharmā is leaving to perform a yajña and instructs his son to guard his wife Rucikī carefully, because Indra is persistently trying to obtain her; Bhishma cites this as an example emphasizing duty and protection.