Shloka 50
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
शेषान्नमुपभुञ्जाना यथान्यायं यथाविधि । तुष्टपुष्टजना नित्यं नारी धर्मेण युज्यते
śeṣānnam upabhuñjānā yathānyāyaṃ yathāvidhi | tuṣṭapuṣṭajanā nityaṃ nārī dharmeṇa yujyate ||
Maheshvara sprach: Eine Frau, die gemäß Gerechtigkeit und vorgeschriebener Ordnung nur die Speise zu sich nimmt, die übrig bleibt, nachdem die anderen gebührend gesättigt wurden, und die die Hausgenossen stets zufrieden und wohlgenährt erhält—eine solche Frau ist mit dem Dharma verbunden.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in household life includes serving others first—following proper rule and fairness—so that dependents are satisfied and nourished, and only then partaking of what remains. Such disciplined, service-oriented conduct is presented as a mark of righteousness.
Maheshvara is describing the qualities of an ideal dharmic woman within the householder setting, emphasizing orderly conduct (vidhi), propriety (nyaya), and the welfare of the household as a religious-ethical practice.