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 ||
‘ನಾನು ಅಶುದ್ಧಳಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ’ ಎಂದುಕೊಂಡು, ತಪ್ಪು ಮಾಡಿದವಳಂತೆ ಗಂಡನ ಮುಂದೆ ಲಜ್ಜೆಯಿಂದ ಆ ಸಾಧ್ವಿ ಮೌನವಾಗಿದ್ದಳು; ನಂತರ ಏನನ್ನೂ ಹೇಳಲಿಲ್ಲ.
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.