Shloka 17
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
यदि मेरे पति किसी आवश्यक कार्यवश कभी परदेश जाते तो मैं नियमसे रहकर उनके कल्याणके लिये नाना प्रकारके मांगलिक कार्य किया करती थी ।।
ajjanaṃ rocanāṃ caiva snānaṃ mālyānulepanam | prasādhanaṃ ca niṣkrānte nābhinandāmi bhartari ||
Bhishma berkata: “Apabila suamiku meninggalkan rumah, aku tidak bersuka cita dengan perhiasan diri—celak pada mata, tanda gorocanā di dahi, mandi dengan minyak, kalungan bunga, sapuan wangian, atau apa jua bentuk bersolek. Dalam ketiadaannya, aku menahan diri dan melakukan upacara-upacara yang membawa berkat demi kesejahteraannya.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined restraint and loyalty: in a husband’s absence, a wife refrains from personal adornment and instead maintains vows and performs auspicious acts directed toward his welfare—an ethic of self-control and devotion within household dharma.
Bhishma, while instructing on conduct and duties, cites a model of wifely behavior: when the husband is away, she does not indulge in beautification (kohl, tilaka, oil-bath, garlands, perfumes, ornamentation), emphasizing modesty and concern for his well-being.