Shloka 61
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
उच्छिष्टास्मीति मन््वाना लज्जिता भर्तुरिव च । तूष्णी भूताभवत् साध्वी न चोवाचाथ किंचन,परंतु ओधवतीने उस समय अपने पतिको कोई उत्तर नहीं दिया। अतिथिरूपमें आये हुए ब्राह्मणने अपने दोनों हाथोंसे उसे छू दिया था। इससे वह सती-साध्वी पतिव्रता अपनेको दूषित मानकर अपने स्वामीसे भी लज्जित हो गयी थी; इसीलिये वह साध्वी चुप हो गयी। कुछ भी बोल न सकी
ucchiṣṭāsmīti manvānā lajjitā bhartur iva ca | tūṣṇī bhūtābhavat sādhvī na covācātha kiñcana ||
Thinking, “I have been rendered impure,” and feeling ashamed before her husband as though she had committed a fault, the virtuous, chaste wife became silent and spoke nothing at all.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of modesty and marital fidelity (pativrata) as understood in the Anushasana Parva: the woman, fearing even the appearance of impropriety and feeling ‘tainted’ by an unsolicited touch, withdraws into silence rather than speak freely, showing restraint and sensitivity to dharma as she understands it.
A virtuous wife, believing herself defiled (ucchiṣṭā) and feeling ashamed before her husband, becomes silent and says nothing. The surrounding context explains that a Brahmin guest had touched her with both hands, and this leads her to feel embarrassed and unable to respond.