Shloka 56
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
पतिप्रसाद: स्वर्गो वा तुल्यो नार्या न वा भवेत् । अहं स्वर्ग न हीच्छेयं त्वय्यप्रीते महेश्वरे
patiprasādaḥ svargo vā tulyo nāryā na vā bhavet | ahaṃ svargaṃ na hīccheyaṃ tvayy aprīte maheśvare ||
“Que la aprobación benévola del esposo y el cielo puedan considerarse realmente iguales a los ojos de una mujer es, en sí, dudoso. ¡Oh Maheśvara, señor de mi vida! No desearía el cielo si con ello te dejara descontento.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates devoted relational dharma over external rewards: spiritual merit (svarga) is not worth pursuing if it requires causing displeasure to the revered lord/husband; true virtue is framed as loyalty, love, and prioritizing righteous relationship above personal gain.
A speaker addresses Maheśvara, declaring that even heaven is undesirable if it comes at the cost of his displeasure, contrasting celestial reward with the value of the beloved lord’s approval.