Shloka 2
भीष्म–रामसंयुगनिवृत्तिः
Bhishma and Rama: Restraint and Withdrawal in the Engagement
तानुवाच ततः कन्या तपोवृद्धानृषींस्तदा । निराकृतास्मि भीष्मेण भ्रंशिता पतिधर्मत:ः
tān uvāca tataḥ kanyā tapovṛddhān ṛṣīṁs tadā | nirākṛtāsmi bhīṣmeṇa bhraṁśitā patidharmataḥ ||
Alors la jeune fille s’adressa à ces ascètes, mûris par l’austérité : «Bhīṣma m’a rejetée ; on m’a privée du dharma d’une épouse — tant l’obtention d’un mari que le devoir de service dévoué qui s’ensuit.»
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds patidharma—marital duty and social-ethical status tied to marriage—and shows how denial of rightful marital placement is experienced as a moral injury, prompting appeal to ascetic authority for redress.
A maiden approaches austerity-hardened sages and laments that Bhīṣma has refused her, leaving her cut off from the expected path of obtaining a husband and fulfilling wifely obligations; this complaint sets up her search for justice and resolution.