Shloka 20
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवस्य पत्नी धर्मभृतां वरा । स्मितपूर्वमथाभाष्य सर्वास्ता: सरितस्तथा
ity uktvā devadevasya patnī dharmabhṛtāṃ varā | smitapūrvam athābhāṣya sarvāstāḥ saritastathā ||
এ কথা বলে দেবদেব মহাদেবের পত্নী, ধর্মনিষ্ঠদের মধ্যে শ্রেষ্ঠা উমা মৃদু হাসি সহ গঙ্গা প্রভৃতি সকল নদীকে সম্বোধন করলেন।
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames strī-dharma as a subject to be examined through respectful inquiry and authoritative dialogue: Umā, portrayed as exemplary in dharma, initiates a discussion on women’s duties and ethical conduct by consulting venerable, personified rivers such as Gaṅgā.
After concluding a prior statement, Umā—the wife of Mahādeva—smiles gently and addresses the assembled rivers (including Gaṅgā), posing questions to them about strī-dharma, setting up a didactic exchange.