Shloka 21
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
अप्च्छद् देवमहिषी स्त्रीधर्म धर्मवत्सला । स्त्रीधर्मकुशलास्ता वै गड़ाद्या: सरितां वरा:
apacchad devamahiṣī strīdharma dharmavatsalā | strīdharma-kuśalās tā vai gaṅgādyāḥ saritāṁ varāḥ ||
ಧರ್ಮವತ್ಸಲಳಾದ ದೇವಮಹಿಷಿ ಉಮಾ ಸ್ತ್ರೀಧರ್ಮದ ಕುರಿತು ಪ್ರಶ್ನಿಸಿದಳು; ಗಂಗಾದಿ ಆ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠ ನದಿಗಳು ಸ್ತ್ರೀಧರ್ಮದಲ್ಲಿ ನಿಪುಣರಾಗಿದ್ದವು.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames strī-dharma as a serious ethical topic worthy of inquiry by Umā herself, and it presents authoritative sources (sacred rivers like Gaṅgā) as knowledgeable in dharma, setting up a didactic discussion on women’s conduct and responsibilities within a dharmic worldview.
After Maheśvara’s narration, Umā—Śiva’s consort—turns to the foremost rivers beginning with Gaṅgā, acknowledges their expertise in strī-dharma, and asks them questions about it, initiating a teaching dialogue.