Shloka 19
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
यथाशक्ति यथोत्साहं भार्या तामभ्यरक्षत | महामुनि देवशर्मा नारियोंके चरित्रको जानते थे; अतः वे यथाशक्ति उत्साहपूर्वक उसकी रक्षा करते थे ।। पुरन्दरं च जानीते परस्त्रीकामचारिणम्
yathāśakti yathotsāhaṃ bhāryā tām abhyarakṣat | mahāmunir devaśarmā nārīṇāṃ ca caritraṃ jānīte; ataḥ sa yathāśakti utsāhapūrvakaṃ tasyā rakṣāṃ karoti sma || purandaraṃ ca jānīte parastrī-kāma-cāriṇam ||
毗湿摩说道：“大牟尼提婆舍摩竭尽所能、以坚决之心，时刻警醒地守护着自己的妻子。因他深知人之行止的曲折与弱点——尤其在涉女之事上——便以全部力量与诚挚之意护她周全。他也知道，破城者（普兰达罗，即因陀罗）乃是为恋慕他人妻而四处游走之人。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse underscores the householder’s dharma of vigilant protection and responsible conduct: one should safeguard marital fidelity and social order with sincere effort, recognizing that even powerful beings may be driven by desire and thus become sources of temptation or danger.
Bhīṣma describes how the sage Devaśarmā, aware of the complexities of human behavior and mindful of Indra’s reputation for pursuing others’ wives, actively and earnestly guards his wife to prevent harm or transgression.