Shloka 22
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
उमोवाच (हे पुण्या: सरित: श्रेष्ठा: सर्वपापविनाशिका: । ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्पन्ना: शृणुध्वं वचनं मम ।।
umovāca—he puṇyāḥ saritaḥ śreṣṭhāḥ sarvapāpavināśikāḥ | jñānavijñānasampannāḥ śṛṇudhvaṁ vacanaṁ mama || ayaṁ bhagavatā proktaḥ praśnaḥ strīdharma-saṁśritaḥ | taṁ tu sammantrya yuṣmābhir vaktum icchāmi śaṅkaram ||
Umā disse: «Ó rios sagrados—os mais excelsos entre as correntes, destruidores de todo pecado, dotados de conhecimento e discernimento—ouvi minhas palavras. O Senhor Bem-aventurado (Śiva) levantou uma questão acerca do dharma das mulheres. Desejo falar a Śaṅkara sobre isso somente depois de tomar conselho convosco.»
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights a dharmic method: before responding on a sensitive ethical topic (strīdharma), Umā seeks counsel from revered, purifying authorities (the holy rivers), emphasizing deliberation, humility, and responsible speech.
Śiva has posed a question related to women’s dharma. Umā addresses the personified sacred rivers, praising their purifying and wise nature, and asks them to listen so she can consult them before replying to Śaṅkara.