Shloka 15
शल्मलि–पवनसंवादः
The Dialogue of Śalmali and Pavana
यापि चैवंविधा नारी भर्तारिमनुवर्तते । विराजते हि सा क्षिप्रं कपोतीव दिवि स्थिता
yāpi caivaṃvidhā nārī bhartārim anuvartate | virājate hi sā kṣipraṃ kapotīvā divi sthitā ||
Bhishma berkata: Seorang wanita yang berwatak demikian, jika setia mengikuti dan menyokong suaminya, akan segera bersinar—seperti merpati betina—bersemayam di syurga, bercahaya dengan sinar rohaninya sendiri.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents steadfast devotion and loyal companionship to one’s husband as a form of dharma that leads to spiritual radiance and a heavenly state; it emphasizes ethical constancy and duty within the marital role as understood in this discourse.
In Bhishma’s instruction during the Shanti Parva, he is describing the fruits of conduct: he states that even a woman described as ‘such’ (evaṃvidhā) becomes quickly glorious in heaven if she follows her husband, using the simile of a dove shining in the sky.