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 ||
“Ngài vốn đã biết rõ phụ nữ trong đời này ra sao, và bản tính tự nhiên của họ thế nào. Vậy nên, bạch thánh hiền, xin đừng giao cho ta một việc như thế.”
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.