Shloka 61
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
उच्छिष्टास्मीति मन््वाना लज्जिता भर्तुरिव च । तूष्णी भूताभवत् साध्वी न चोवाचाथ किंचन
ucchiṣṭāsmīti manvānā lajjitā bhartur iva ca | tūṣṇī bhūtābhavat sādhvī na covācātha kiñcana ||
「私は不浄となってしまった」と思い、まるで過ちを犯したかのように夫の前で恥じたため、その徳高く貞節な妻は黙し、ひと言も口にしなかった。
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ideal of modesty and marital fidelity (pativrata) as understood in the Anushasana Parva: the woman, fearing even the appearance of impropriety and feeling ‘tainted’ by an unsolicited touch, withdraws into silence rather than speak freely, showing restraint and sensitivity to dharma as she understands it.
A virtuous wife, believing herself defiled (ucchiṣṭā) and feeling ashamed before her husband, becomes silent and says nothing. The surrounding context explains that a Brahmin guest had touched her with both hands, and this leads her to feel embarrassed and unable to respond.