Shloka 50
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
शेषान्नमुपभुञ्जाना यथान्यायं यथाविधि । तुष्टपुष्टजना नित्यं नारी धर्मेण युज्यते
śeṣānnam upabhuñjānā yathānyāyaṃ yathāvidhi | tuṣṭapuṣṭajanā nityaṃ nārī dharmeṇa yujyate ||
Maheshvara dit : La femme qui, selon la justice et la règle prescrite, ne mange que le reste après avoir dûment rassasié les autres, et qui maintient les gens de la maison constamment satisfaits et bien nourris—cette femme est unie au dharma.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that dharma in household life includes serving others first—following proper rule and fairness—so that dependents are satisfied and nourished, and only then partaking of what remains. Such disciplined, service-oriented conduct is presented as a mark of righteousness.
Maheshvara is describing the qualities of an ideal dharmic woman within the householder setting, emphasizing orderly conduct (vidhi), propriety (nyaya), and the welfare of the household as a religious-ethical practice.