Shloka 53
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
व्रतं चरति या नित्यं दुश्चवरं लघुसत्त्वया । पतिचित्ता पतिहिता सा पतिव्रतभागिनी
vrataṃ carati yā nityaṃ duścaraṃ laghu-sattvayā | pati-cittā pati-hitā sā pati-vrata-bhāginī ||
قال ماهيشڤارا: «التي، وإن كانت رقيقة القوة، تداوم على حمل نذرٍ عسيرٍ وحفظه؛ فيكون قلبها معلّقًا بزوجها، وتكون أعمالها لخيرِه—فهذه حقًّا شريكة في منزلة وثواب الباتيفراتا (الزوجة المخلصة لزوجها).»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines pativratā not merely as a label but as a lived discipline: steadfast practice of a demanding vow, mental fidelity (pati-cittā), and active commitment to the husband’s welfare (pati-hitā). Ethical worth is tied to sustained conduct and intention.
Śrīmaheśvara is describing the qualities by which a woman is recognized as truly participating in the merit/status of a pativratā—emphasizing continuous observance of a difficult discipline even when physically delicate, along with husband-centered intention and beneficent action.