Shloka 15
Śāṇḍilī–Sumanā-saṃvāda: Sat-strī-samudācāra and Pati-dharma
Conduct of the Virtuous Wife
पुण्यस्यैवाभिगन्धस्ते मनन््ये कर्मविधानजम् । अधिकं मार्जनात् तात तथा चैवानुलेपनात्
puṇyasyaivābhigandhas te manye karmavidhānajam | adhikaṃ mārjanāt tāta tathā caivānulepanāt ||
Vyāsa dijo: «La fragancia del mérito que sin cesar emana de ti, creo que nace de tu disciplinada práctica de los actos justos—en especial, del mérito del dar. Hijo querido, la caridad supera incluso el lavarse y ungirse; es mayor que la purificación externa, pues es una consagración interior que esparce el perfume de la virtud.»
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
True purity is not merely external (cleansing and anointing) but arises from righteous conduct—especially charity—whose merit becomes visible as a ‘fragrance’ of virtue.
Vyāsa addresses a listener affectionately and interprets the person’s constant ‘scent of merit’ as the result of properly performed virtuous acts, highlighting dāna (giving) as superior to outward acts of purification.