Shloka 47
Devaśarmā–Vipula Dialogue on Ahorātra–Ṛtu as Moral Witnesses (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४३)
गात्राणि गात्रैरस्याहं सम्प्रवेक्ष्ये हि रक्षितुम् यद्युच्छिष्टामिमां पत्नीमद्य पश्यति मे गुरु:
gātrāṇi gātrair asyāhaṃ sampravekṣye hi rakṣitum | yady ucchiṣṭām imāṃ patnīm adya paśyati me guruḥ ||
毗湿摩说道：“为护她周全，我甚至愿以自身肢体去阻挡他的肢体。因为若我所敬奉的长者今日见到这位妻子竟被弃置如同‘残羹余物’——受辱而被遗弃——我又怎能承受那份责难？”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
One must actively protect the vulnerable—even at personal risk—and uphold family and social dharma; allowing a woman to be dishonoured brings moral blame, especially before revered elders whose judgment embodies ethical accountability.
Bhīṣma declares his readiness to physically shield a woman by placing his own body between her and an aggressor, motivated by the fear of disgrace if his respected elder were to witness her being treated as ‘ucchiṣṭa’—abandoned and dishonoured.