Shloka 36
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
सा भवेद् धर्मपरमा सा भवेद् धर्मभागिनी । देववत् सततं साध्वी या भर्तरें प्रपश्यति
sā bhaved dharmaparamā sā bhaved dharmabhāginī | devavat satataṃ sādhvī yā bhartaraṃ prapaśyati ||
彼女こそ法に最も篤く帰依する者、法の果報を分かち受ける者である――常に夫を神のごとく仰ぎ見る貞淑な女である。ここでの倫理の要点は、婚姻における揺るがぬ貞節と敬意、そして善きふるまいが、正しき生の主要なかたちとして、また功徳を生む源として示されていることである。
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a wife who consistently regards her husband with reverence—‘as divine’—and maintains virtuous conduct is considered dharma-centered and becomes a participant in the fruits of dharma. It frames marital fidelity and respectful devotion as a principal ethical-religious duty.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Śrī Maheśvara is instructing on norms of conduct (dharma), specifically describing the qualities and religious standing of a ‘sādhvī’ wife and how such conduct is linked to merit.