Shloka 10
लुब्धक-कपोत-कपोती-आख्यानम्
The Hunter and the Pigeon Couple: Expiation and Refuge-Ethics
पतिव्रता पतिगति: पतिप्रियहिते रता । यस्य स्यात् तादृशी भार्या धन्य: स पुरुषो भुवि
pativratā patigatiḥ patipriyahite ratā | yasya syāt tādṛśī bhāryā dhanyaḥ sa puruṣo bhuvi ||
તે પતિવ્રતા હતી; પતિ જ તેની પરમ ગતિ હતી. તે સદા પતિને પ્રિય અને હિતકારક કાર્યમાં રત રહેતી. જેને એવી પત્ની પ્રાપ્ત થાય, તે પુરુષ આ ધરતી પર ધન્ય છે.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse praises the ethical ideal of a spouse’s steadfast commitment within marriage: a wife who treats her husband as her primary refuge and consistently acts for what is dear and beneficial to him is presented as a great blessing, and the husband who receives such companionship is called ‘fortunate’.
In Śānti Parva, Bhishma is instructing on dharma and social ethics. Here he offers a concise commendation of the pativratā ideal, highlighting loyalty and welfare-oriented conduct within the household as exemplary virtues.