Shloka 17
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
यदि मेरे पति किसी आवश्यक कार्यवश कभी परदेश जाते तो मैं नियमसे रहकर उनके कल्याणके लिये नाना प्रकारके मांगलिक कार्य किया करती थी ।।
ajjanaṃ rocanāṃ caiva snānaṃ mālyānulepanam | prasādhanaṃ ca niṣkrānte nābhinandāmi bhartari ||
ビーシュマは言った。「夫が家を離れているとき、私は飾り立てを喜ばなかった。目にコーリリウムを引くことも、額にゴーロチャナーの印を置くことも、油を用いた沐浴も、花鬘も、香油も、いかなる化粧も好まなかった。彼の不在には身を慎み、その安泰のために吉祥の儀礼を修した。」
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined restraint and loyalty: in a husband’s absence, a wife refrains from personal adornment and instead maintains vows and performs auspicious acts directed toward his welfare—an ethic of self-control and devotion within household dharma.
Bhishma, while instructing on conduct and duties, cites a model of wifely behavior: when the husband is away, she does not indulge in beautification (kohl, tilaka, oil-bath, garlands, perfumes, ornamentation), emphasizing modesty and concern for his well-being.