Shloka 22
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
उमोवाच (हे पुण्या: सरित: श्रेष्ठा: सर्वपापविनाशिका: । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्ना: शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ।।
umovāca—he puṇyāḥ saritaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ sarvapāpavināśikāḥ | jñānavijñānasampannāḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ vacanaṁ mama || ayaṁ bhagavatā proktaḥ praśnaḥ strīdharma-saṁśritaḥ | taṁ tu sammantrya yuṣmābhir vaktum icchāmi śaṅkaram ||
Dijo Umā: «Oh ríos sagrados—los más excelsos entre las corrientes, destructores de todo pecado, dotados de conocimiento y discernimiento—escuchad mis palabras. El Bienaventurado Señor (Śiva) ha planteado una cuestión relativa al dharma de las mujeres. Deseo hablar de ello a Śaṅkara sólo después de haber tomado consejo de vosotras.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic method: before responding on a sensitive ethical topic (strīdharma), Umā seeks counsel from revered, purifying authorities (the holy rivers), emphasizing deliberation, humility, and responsible speech.
Śiva has posed a question related to women’s dharma. Umā addresses the personified sacred rivers, praising their purifying and wise nature, and asks them to listen so she can consult them before replying to Śaṅkara.