Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 463
स्प्रक्ष्यन्ति पुण्यगन्धा च कृष्णमाराधयिष्यसि । फिर मुनिने रुक्मिणीसे भी प्रसन्नतापूर्वक कहा--“शोभने! तुम सम्पूर्ण स्त्रियोंमें उत्तम यश और लोकमें सर्वोत्तम कीर्ति प्राप्त करोगी। भामिनि! तुम्हें बुढ़ापा या रोग अथवा कान्तिहीनता आदि दोष नहीं छू सकेंगे। तुम पवित्र सुगन्धसे सुवासित होकर श्रीकृष्णकी आराधना करोगी
spṛkṣyanti puṇyagandhā ca kṛṣṇam ārādhayiṣyasi |
Vāyu-deva said: “A holy fragrance will cling to you, and you will worship Kṛṣṇa with reverence.” In context, the blessing signals moral and spiritual protection: purity (symbolized by auspicious scent) and steadfast devotion are presented as the fruits of virtuous conduct, ensuring that degrading conditions do not ‘touch’ the devotee.
वायुदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
Purity and merit are portrayed as protective forces: when one lives rightly, auspicious qualities ‘adhere’ to the person, culminating in devoted worship of Kṛṣṇa. The verse frames devotion not as mere ritual but as the ethical fruition of a purified life.
Vāyu-deva speaks a benediction, foretelling that the addressed person will be marked by auspicious fragrance (a sign of sanctity) and will engage in the worship of Kṛṣṇa. The statement functions as a promise of spiritual excellence and divine-oriented life.