Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
उमोवाच स्त्रीधर्मो मां प्रति यथा प्रतिभाति यथाविधि । तमहं कीर्तयिष्यामि तथैव प्रश्निता भव
umovāca strīdharmaḥ māṃ prati yathā pratibhāti yathāvidhi | tam ahaṃ kīrtayiṣyāmi tathaiva praśnitā bhava |
Umā dit : «Tel que le strī-dharma —le dharma des femmes— se présente à mon intelligence, et selon la manière convenable, je l’exposerai. Aussi, sois de ceux qui interrogent avec humilité et un ardent désir de savoir, et écoute en conséquence.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
The verse frames ethical instruction: Umā will explain strīdharma in a proper, rule-guided way, and the listener should approach the teaching with humility and sincere inquiry.
In a dialogue involving Maheśvara and Umā, Umā begins her response, announcing that she will expound the topic of women’s dharma as she understands it, and she urges the interlocutor to listen as an earnest, respectful questioner.