Shloka 79

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

श्षशुर उवाच अनेन नित्यं साध्वी त्वं शीलवृत्तेन शोभसे । या त्वं धर्मव्रतोपेता गुरुवृत्तिमवेक्षसे,श्वशुरने कहा--बेटी! तुम सती-साथ्वी नारी हो और सदा ऐसे ही शील एवं सदाचारका पालन करनेसे तुम्हारी शोभा है। तुम धर्म तथा व्रतके आचरणमें संलग्न होकर सर्वदा गुरुजनोंकी सेवापर ही दृष्टि रखती हो; इसलिये बहू! मैं तुम्हें पुण्यसे वंचित न होने दूँगा। धर्मात्माओंमें श्रेष्ठ महाभागे! पुण्यात्माओंमें तुम्हारी गिनती करके मैं तुम्हारा दिया हुआ सत्तू अवश्य स्वीकार करूँगा

Transliteration

śvaśura uvāca: anena nityaṁ sādhvī tvaṁ śīla-vṛttena śobhase | yā tvaṁ dharma-vrata-upetā guru-vṛttim avekṣase ||

Translation

Bapa mertua berkata: “Dengan tingkah laku ini engkau sentiasa bersinar sebagai wanita berbudi, dihiasi akhlak mulia dan perilaku yang benar. Oleh sebab engkau teguh berpegang pada dharma dan amalan nazar suci, serta sentiasa menumpukan perhatian pada khidmat dan penghormatan yang wajar kepada para tua dan guru, aku tidak akan membiarkan engkau terhalang daripada pahala. Wahai yang bertuah, yang dihitung dalam kalangan orang benar, aku pasti menerima sattu yang engkau persembahkan.”

Word by Word

श्वशुरःfather-in-law

उवाचsaid

अनेनby this; with this

नित्यम्always

साध्वीvirtuous woman

त्वम्you

शील-वृत्तेनby good character and conduct

शोभसेyou shine; you are adorned

याwho; since you (who)

त्वम्you

धर्म-व्रत-उपेताendowed with dharma and vows

गुरु-वृत्तिम्service/observance toward elders/teachers

अवेक्षसेyou attend to; you keep in view

Speaker

श्षशुर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śvaśura (father-in-law)

Sādhvī (virtuous daughter-in-law)

Guru-jana (elders/teachers)

Sattū (roasted barley/flour offering)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises steadfast ethical conduct: a virtuous life is shown through consistent good character (śīla) and behavior (vṛtta), devotion to dharma and vows (vrata), and attentive service/respect toward elders and teachers (guru-vṛtti). Such conduct is affirmed as a source of puṇya (spiritual merit), which the elder vows to protect and acknowledge.

What is happening in the narrative?

A father-in-law addresses his daughter-in-law, commending her virtuous, disciplined life and her respectful attention to elders. He assures her that he will not let her lose the merit of her pious act and declares that he will accept the sattu (a simple food offering) she has presented, thereby honoring her devotion and preserving the religious value of her offering.