Śuka’s Guṇa-Transcendence and Vyāsa’s Consolation (शुकगति-वर्णनम्)
साहं तस्मिन् कुले जाता भर्तर्यसति मद्विधे | विनीता मोक्षधर्मेषु चराम्येका मुनिव्रतम्
sāhaṃ tasmin kule jātā bhartary asati madvidhe | vinītā mokṣadharmeṣu carāmy ekā munivratam ||
ମୁଁ ସେହି କୁଳରେ ଜନ୍ମିତା; କିନ୍ତୁ ମୋ ପାଇଁ ପତି ନାହିଁ—ମୁଁ ମୋ ପରି ନିଜସ୍ୱ, ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ। ମୋକ୍ଷଧର୍ମର ଅନୁଶାସନରେ ଶିକ୍ଷିତ ହୋଇ, ଏବେ ମୁଁ ଏକା ରହି ମୁନିବ୍ରତର ପଥ ଆଚରଣ କରୁଛି।
भीष्य उवाच
Even when social circumstances (such as being without a husband) are difficult or unconventional, one can transform life through discipline and instruction in mokṣa-dharma, adopting a principled, ascetic mode of conduct aimed at liberation.
Within Bhishma’s discourse on mokṣa-dharma in the Śānti Parva, a female voice (quoted or referenced) describes her life: born into a particular lineage, left without a husband, she has been trained in liberative teachings and now lives alone practicing a sage-like vow.