Shloka 65
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
अनया हनन््द्यमानो*हं भार्यया तव सत्तम | तैस्तैरतिथिसत्कारैर््रेद्य॒न्नेषा वृता मया,'साधुशिरोमणे! तुम्हारी इस पत्नीने अतिथि-सत्कारके द्वारा मेरी इच्छा पूर्ण करनेका वचन दिया है। ब्रह्मन! तब मैंने इसे ही वरण कर लिया है
anayā hanadyamāno ’haṃ bhāryayā tava sattama | tais tair atithi-satkārair īpsitaṃ meṣā vṛtā mayā ||
Bhishma sprach: „O Bester der Menschen, obgleich deine Gattin mich drängte und antrieb, gelobte sie, meinen Wunsch durch die gebührende Ehrung des Gastes zu erfüllen. Darum, o Vornehmster der Tugendhaften, wählte ich sie aufgrund jener Akte der Gastfreundschaft.“
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma (the duty of honoring guests) as a powerful ethical commitment: sincere hospitality and the keeping of one’s pledged word can determine social and moral outcomes, earning acceptance and trust.
Bhishma explains that, although he was being urged by the woman (described as the listener’s wife), she promised to satisfy his wish through acts of guest-honoring; on the strength of that pledge and her hospitality, he accepted/selected her.