Shloka 196

Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)

Devanagari script

तस्माद्‌ बलेन भार्याया रक्षणं स चकार ह । वे यह भी जानते थे कि इन्द्र बड़ा ही पर-स्त्रीलम्पट है, इसलिये वे अपनी स्त्रीकी उनसे यत्नपूर्वक रक्षा करते थे

Transliteration

tasmād balena bhāryāyā rakṣaṇaṃ sa cakāra ha |

Translation

因此，他以全部力量承担起守护妻子的责任。因知因陀罗素以追逐他人妻室而臭名昭著，他便格外谨慎、刻意周密地护卫她——彰显婚姻伦理中“护持与警醒”的义务。

Word by Word

• तस्मात्: therefore/from that reason
• तस्मात्: Apadana
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Ablative, Singular

• बलेन: by strength/with force
• बलेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• भार्यायाः: of (his) wife
• भार्यायाः: Sambandha
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• रक्षणम्: protection/guarding
• रक्षणम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षण
• Form: Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• सः: he
• सः: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चकार: did/made
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• ह: indeed/for emphasis
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• Indra
• bhāryā (wife)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse underscores the householder’s dharma of safeguarding marital fidelity and protecting one’s spouse, coupled with prudent vigilance when faced with known moral dangers.

What is happening in the narrative?

Bhishma describes a man who, aware of Indra’s reputation for desiring others’ wives, actively and carefully protects his own wife, emphasizing deliberate guarding rather than negligence.