Shloka 10
लुब्धक-कपोत-कपोती-आख्यानम्
The Hunter and the Pigeon Couple: Expiation and Refuge-Ethics
पतिव्रता पतिगति: पतिप्रियहिते रता । यस्य स्यात् तादृशी भार्या धन्य: स पुरुषो भुवि
pativratā patigatiḥ patipriyahite ratā | yasya syāt tādṛśī bhāryā dhanyaḥ sa puruṣo bhuvi ||
সে ছিল পতিব্রতা; স্বামীয়ই ছিল তার একমাত্র গতি। সে সর্বদা স্বামীর প্রিয় ও হিতসাধনে নিবিষ্ট থাকত। যার এমন স্ত্রী লাভ হয়, সে পুরুষ এই পৃথিবীতে ধন্য।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ethical ideal of a spouse’s steadfast commitment within marriage: a wife who treats her husband as her primary refuge and consistently acts for what is dear and beneficial to him is presented as a great blessing, and the husband who receives such companionship is called ‘fortunate’.
In Śānti Parva, Bhishma is instructing on dharma and social ethics. Here he offers a concise commendation of the pativratā ideal, highlighting loyalty and welfare-oriented conduct within the household as exemplary virtues.