Shloka 4
च्यवन-कुशिक-संवादः
Cyavana–Kuśika Dialogue on Hospitality, Service, and Lineage Questions
पतितस्य तु भार्याया भर्त्रा सुसमवेतया । तथा दत्तकृतौ पुत्रावध्यूदक्ष तथापर:
patitasya tu bhāryāyā bhartṛā susamavetayā | tathā dattakṛtau putrāv adhyūdakṣa tathāparaḥ ||
ভীষ্মে ক’লে—পুৰুষ পতিত হ’লেও, যদি তাৰ পত্নী স্বামীৰ সৈতে বিধিমতে সুসমৱেত থাকে, তেন্তে দত্তক/নিয়োগে প্ৰাপ্ত বা অন্য উপায়ে প্ৰাপ্ত পুত্ৰসকলো, অন্য স্বীকৃত ক্ষেত্ৰৰ দৰে, উদক-তৰ্পণ আদি ক্ৰিয়াৰ অধিকাৰী বুলি গণ্য হয়।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse addresses dharma concerning family and ritual continuity: even when the husband is ‘patita’ (fallen), if the marital union is duly maintained, sons recognized through accepted means (including adoption/authorized arrangements) remain qualified for essential ancestral rites such as the udaka-offering.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhīṣma is instructing Yudhiṣṭhira on dharmaśāstric norms. Here he clarifies the status of sons and their ritual eligibility in a household where the husband is considered fallen, emphasizing lawful marital association and recognized forms of sonship.