Shloka 49
पापात्म-धर्मात्म-लक्षणम् तथा निर्वेदेन मोक्षमार्गः | Marks of the Sinful and the Righteous; Dispassion (Nirveda) as a Path to Liberation
परवानस्मि चेत्युक्त: प्रणयिष्यति तेन च । अत्र चाकुशले जाते स्त्रिया नास्ति व्यतिक्रम:
paravān asmi cety uktaḥ praṇayiṣyati tena ca | atra cākuśale jāte striyā nāsti vyatikramaḥ ||
Bhīṣma dit : « Lorsque je déclarai avec respect : “Vénérable seigneur, je suis sous votre autorité”, j’espérais que, par cette courtoisie, l’hôte honoré répondrait avec affection. Mais ici, par l’ivresse sensuelle d’Indra, un douloureux malheur s’est produit. En cette affaire, la femme n’a aucune faute et n’a commis nulle transgression. »
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse emphasizes ethical discernment in assigning blame: even when misfortune arises, one should not accuse the innocent. It also highlights the ideal of atithi-dharma (reverence to guests) and warns that uncontrolled desire—even in a powerful figure like Indra—can cause harm.
The speaker recounts that he humbly submitted himself to a guest’s authority, expecting goodwill in return. Instead, an unfortunate incident occurs because of Indra’s lustful impulse, and the speaker explicitly absolves the woman of wrongdoing.