Shloka 8
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
गान्धारि परितुष्टो5स्मि वध्वा: शुश्रूषणेन वै । तस्मात् त्वमेनां धर्मज्ञे समनुज्ञातुमहसि
gāndhāri parituṣṭo ’smi vadhvāḥ śuśrūṣaṇena vai | tasmāt tvam enāṃ dharmajñe samanujñātum arhasi ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O dharma-knowing Gāndhārī, I am truly pleased with the devoted service rendered by your daughter-in-law. Therefore, O wise one, you should now grant her permission to return home.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Faithful service (śuśrūṣā) performed with humility is recognized as a dharmic virtue; elders, as guardians of dharma, should respond with fair permission and compassionate release rather than possessiveness.
In the Ashramavāsika setting, an elder addresses Gāndhārī, expressing satisfaction with the daughter-in-law’s devoted attendance and urging Gāndhārī—praised as a knower of dharma—to formally permit her to return home.