Shloka 35
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
सुस्वभावा सुवचना सुवृत्ता सुखदर्शना । अनन्यचित्ता सुमुखी भर्तु: सा धर्मचारिणी,जिसके स्वभाव, बात-चीत और आचरण उत्तम हों, जिसको देखनेसे पतिको सुख मिलता हो, जो अपने पतिके सिवा दूसरे किसी पुरुषमें मन नहीं लगाती हो और स्वामीके समक्ष सदा प्रसन्नमुखी रहती हो, वह स्त्री धर्माचरण करनेवाली मानी गयी है। जो साध्वी स्त्री अपने स्वामीको सदा देवतुल्य समझती है, वही धर्मपरायणा और वही धर्मके फलकी भागिनी होती है
susvabhāvā suvacanā suvṛttā sukhadarśanā | ananyacittā sumukhī bhartuḥ sā dharmacāriṇī ||
Maheshvara said: A woman is regarded as one who practices dharma when her nature is good, her speech is gracious, her conduct is virtuous, her very presence brings her husband joy, her mind does not turn toward any man other than her husband, and she remains cheerful-faced before her lord. Such fidelity and respectful devotion to the husband are presented here as the ethical marks of a dharma-centered household life and as the basis for sharing in the fruits of dharma.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines a dharma-practicing wife through inner disposition and outward conduct: good nature, kind speech, virtuous behavior, pleasing presence, exclusive fidelity in thought, and a consistently respectful, cheerful demeanor toward her husband. It frames household dharma as grounded in character, restraint, and devoted partnership.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Śrī Maheśvara is giving normative guidance on dharma. Here he enumerates qualities by which a woman is recognized as dharmacāriṇī, presenting an ethical ideal for marital life within the broader discourse on duties and righteous conduct.