Shloka 22
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
उमोवाच (हे पुण्या: सरित: श्रेष्ठा: सर्वपापविनाशिका: । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्ना: शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ।।) अयं भगवता प्रोक्ता: प्रश्न: स्त्रीधर्मसंश्रित: । तं तु सम्मन्त्र्य युष्माभिवरक्तुमिच्छामि शंकरम्,उमा बोलीं--हे समस्त पापोंका विनाश करनेवाली, ज्ञान-विज्ञानसे सम्पन्न पुण्यसलिला श्रेष्ठ नदियो! मेरी बात सुनो। भगवान् शिवने यह स्ट्रीधर्मसम्बन्धी प्रश्न उपस्थित किया है। उसके विषयमें मैं तुमलोगोंसे सलाह लेकर ही भगवान् शंकरसे कुछ कहना चाहती हूँ
umovāca—he puṇyāḥ saritaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ sarvapāpavināśikāḥ | jñānavijñānasampannāḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ vacanaṁ mama || ayaṁ bhagavatā proktaḥ praśnaḥ strīdharma-saṁśritaḥ | taṁ tu sammantrya yuṣmābhir vaktum icchāmi śaṅkaram ||
Umā said: “O holy rivers—foremost among streams, destroyers of all sin, endowed with knowledge and discernment—listen to my words. The Blessed Lord (Śiva) has raised a question concerning the dharma of women. I wish to speak to Śaṅkara about it only after taking counsel with you.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic method: before responding on a sensitive ethical topic (strīdharma), Umā seeks counsel from revered, purifying authorities (the holy rivers), emphasizing deliberation, humility, and responsible speech.
Śiva has posed a question related to women’s dharma. Umā addresses the personified sacred rivers, praising their purifying and wise nature, and asks them to listen so she can consult them before replying to Śaṅkara.