Shloka 38
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
पुत्रवक्त्रमिवाभी क्षणं भर्तुर्वदनमी क्षते । या साध्वी नियताहारा सा भवेद् धर्मचारिणी
putravaktram ivābhīkṣṇaṁ bhartur vadanaṁ īkṣate | yā sādhvī niyatāhārā sā bhaved dharmacāriṇī ||
महेश्वर बोले—जो स्त्री अपने पति के मुख को अपने पुत्र के मुख की भाँति स्नेह से बार-बार निहारती है, जो ईर्ष्या-संदेह से रहित है; और जो साध्वी, संयमी तथा नियमित आहार वाली है—वही वास्तव में धर्मचारिणी होती है।
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines dharmic conduct for a wife as affectionate, non-suspicious regard toward her husband—likened to a mother’s pure gaze toward her child—combined with personal discipline, especially temperance and regulated living.
Śrīmaheśvara is instructing on standards of righteous household conduct, describing the qualities by which a woman is recognized as sādhvī (virtuous) and dharmacāriṇī (one who practices dharma).