Shloka 20
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
इमं धर्मपथं नारी पालयन्ती समाहिता । अरुन्धतीव नारीणां स्वर्गलोके महीयते
imaṃ dharmapathaṃ nārī pālayantī samāhitā | arundhatīvā nārīṇāṃ svargaloke mahīyate ||
Bhīṣma said: “A woman who, remaining ever attentive and self-possessed, follows and safeguards this path of dharma becomes honored among women like Arundhatī, and in the heavenly world too she attains distinguished esteem.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Steadfast, mindful adherence to one’s dharmic duties brings honor in society and spiritual merit; Arundhati is invoked as the cultural exemplar of such disciplined virtue.
In the Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma; here he concludes a point about a woman who carefully follows the prescribed righteous path, stating that she gains renown like Arundhati and is honored in heaven.