Shloka 16
Strī-satkāra (On honoring women) — Mahābhārata 13.46
रक्षिता च त्वया पुत्र मम चापि निवेदिता । अहं ते प्रीतिमांस्तात स्वस्थ: स्वर्ग गमिष्यसि
rakṣitā ca tvayā putra mama cāpi niveditā | ahaṃ te prītimāṃs tāta svasthaḥ svarga gamiṣyasi ||
Vipula nói: “Con ta, nàng đã được con bảo hộ và đã được trao trả lại cho ta đúng phép. Ta vô cùng hài lòng về con, hỡi đứa trẻ yêu dấu. Hãy ra đi trong an ổn; con sẽ đạt đến cõi trời.”
विपुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Protecting another—especially one entrusted to one’s care—and returning them safely is a dharmic act that earns gratitude and spiritual merit; such righteous conduct is praised as leading to auspicious destiny (svarga).
Vipula addresses a younger person as ‘son,’ acknowledging that a woman (implied by the feminine ‘rakṣitā’) has been safeguarded and returned to him. He expresses heartfelt approval and blesses the addressee with peace and the promise of attaining heaven.