Shloka 65
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
अनया हनन््द्यमानो*हं भार्यया तव सत्तम | तैस्तैरतिथिसत्कारैर््रेद्य॒न्नेषा वृता मया
anayā hanadyamāno ’haṃ bhāryayā tava sattama | tais tair atithi-satkārair īpsitaṃ meṣā vṛtā mayā ||
ភីស្មៈ បាននិយាយថា៖ «ឱ មនុស្សប្រសើរបំផុត ទោះបីភរិយារបស់អ្នកបានជំរុញខ្ញុំយ៉ាងខ្លាំងក៏ដោយ នាងបានសន្យាថា នឹងបំពេញបំណងរបស់ខ្ញុំ ដោយការទទួលភ្ញៀវតាមធម៌។ ដូច្នេះ ឱ អ្នកមានធម៌ជាអធិបតី ខ្ញុំបានជ្រើសរើសនាង ដោយសារការបម្រើភ្ញៀវទាំងនោះ»។
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma (the duty of honoring guests) as a powerful ethical commitment: sincere hospitality and the keeping of one’s pledged word can determine social and moral outcomes, earning acceptance and trust.
Bhishma explains that, although he was being urged by the woman (described as the listener’s wife), she promised to satisfy his wish through acts of guest-honoring; on the strength of that pledge and her hospitality, he accepted/selected her.