Shloka 20
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
इत्युक्त्वा देवदेवस्य पत्नी धर्मभृतां वरा । स्मितपूर्वमथाभाष्य सर्वास्ता: सरितस्तथा,ऐसा कहकर देवाधिदेव महादेवजीकी पत्नी, धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ, धर्मवत्सला, देवमहिषी उमाने स्त्री-धर्मके ज्ञानमें निपुण गंगा आदि उन समस्त श्रेष्ठ सरिताओंको मन्द मुसकानके साथ सम्बोधित करके उनसे स्त्रीधर्मके विषयमें प्रश्न किया
ity uktvā devadevasya patnī dharmabhṛtāṃ varā | smitapūrvam athābhāṣya sarvāstāḥ saritastathā ||
Setelah berkata demikian, Umā—permaisuri kepada Dewa segala dewa, yang terunggul antara para pemegang dharma—lalu, dengan senyuman lembut, menyapa semua sungai itu (seperti Gaṅgā) dan menyoal mereka tentang kewajipan serta tata laku wanita (strī-dharma).
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames strī-dharma as a subject to be examined through respectful inquiry and authoritative dialogue: Umā, portrayed as exemplary in dharma, initiates a discussion on women’s duties and ethical conduct by consulting venerable, personified rivers such as Gaṅgā.
After concluding a prior statement, Umā—the wife of Mahādeva—smiles gently and addresses the assembled rivers (including Gaṅgā), posing questions to them about strī-dharma, setting up a didactic exchange.