Shloka 13
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
नतासां रक्षणं शक््यं कर्तु पुंसां कथंचन
natāsāṃ rakṣaṇaṃ śakyaṃ kartuṃ puṃsāṃ kathaṃcana
毗湿摩说道：“凡已归顺、将自身托付于他人照护者，世间男子无论如何都不可能保证其周全。此言揭示一条严峻的伦理真相：仅凭人的努力与善意，往往不足以在他人已完全依赖之时确保其安稳；因此行事当怀谦卑、常存警觉，并以责任自持，而不可自恃自满。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma emphasizes that guaranteeing the safety of those who surrender and become dependent is not fully within human control; therefore, one must avoid arrogance, recognize limits, and treat the duty of protection as a grave moral responsibility requiring constant care.
In the Anushasana Parva’s instruction on dharma, Bhishma is speaking in a didactic mode, reflecting on the practical and ethical realities of protection and guardianship—especially the heavy burden incurred when others entrust their safety to someone.