Shloka 15
Vivāha-dharma: Kanyā-pradāna, Śulka, and Pāṇigrahaṇa-niṣṭhā (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय ४४)
वक््त्राच्छशशाडकसदृशाद् वाणी संस्कारभूषणा । व्रीडिता सा तु तद्घाक्यमुक्त्वा परवशा तदा,उस चन्द्रोपम मुखसे जब यह संस्कृत वाणी प्रकट हुई तब वह पराधीन हुई रुचि वह वाक्य कह देनेके कारण बहुत लज्जित हुई
vaktrāc chaśāṅka-sadṛśād vāṇī saṃskāra-bhūṣaṇā | vrīḍitā sā tu tad-vākyam uktvā paravaśā tadā ||
Bhishma berkata: Dari wajahnya yang laksana bulan, keluarlah tutur kata yang halus dan teratur—dihiasi oleh didikan yang sempurna. Namun setelah mengucapkannya, dia pun diliputi malu; dan pada saat itu dia menjadi tidak berdaya, seolah-olah berada di bawah kuasa orang lain.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical weight of speech: refined, well-cultivated words (saṃskāra-bhūṣaṇā vāṇī) are powerful, yet speaking can also expose one to vulnerability and shame. It implicitly commends restraint and awareness of consequences in utterance, especially in delicate social or moral situations.
Bhishma describes a woman whose moon-like face gives rise to polished speech; however, immediately after speaking, she feels embarrassed and becomes ‘paravaśā’—as if rendered helpless or dependent due to having voiced that statement.