Shloka 39
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
इस प्रकार श्रीमह्याभारत अनुशासनपर्वके अन्तर्गत दानधर्मपर्वमें स््रियोंके स््वभावका वर्णनविषयक उनतालीसवाँ अध्याय पूरा हुआ,तस्माद् विपुल यत्नेन रक्षेमां तनुमध्यमाम् | यथा रुचिं नावलिहेद् देवेन्द्रो भूगुसत्तम
tasmād vipula-yatnena rakṣemāṃ tanumadhyamām | yathā ruciṃ nāvalihyed devendro bhṛgusattama ||
Kaya nga, O pinakamainam sa angkan ng Bhṛgu, sa pamamagitan ng masidhing pagsisikap ay dapat bantayan ang babaeng ito na may payat na baywang, upang si Indra, panginoon ng mga diyos, ay hindi makalapit sa kanya ayon sa sariling pita (ibig sabihin, hindi siya malapastangan ayon sa kapritso).
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse stresses vigilant protection of women and restraint against predatory desire, using even Indra as a cautionary example—implying that power does not justify transgression and that dharma requires safeguarding the vulnerable.
Yudhiṣṭhira addresses a Bhṛgu-descended sage, concluding a discussion on women’s nature and conduct; he draws a moral that one must carefully guard a woman so that even a powerful figure like Indra does not act upon her according to mere whim.