Shloka 36
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
सा भवेद् धर्मपरमा सा भवेद् धर्मभागिनी । देववत् सततं साध्वी या भर्तरें प्रपश्यति
sā bhaved dharmaparamā sā bhaved dharmabhāginī | devavat satataṃ sādhvī yā bhartaraṃ prapaśyati ||
Ela deve ser tida como supremamente devotada ao dharma; ela é partícipe dos frutos do dharma—a mulher virtuosa que continuamente contempla o marido como um deus. O ponto ético é que a fidelidade constante, a reverência e a boa conduta no matrimónio são apresentadas como uma forma primordial de vida reta e como fonte de mérito religioso.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that a wife who consistently regards her husband with reverence—‘as divine’—and maintains virtuous conduct is considered dharma-centered and becomes a participant in the fruits of dharma. It frames marital fidelity and respectful devotion as a principal ethical-religious duty.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s didactic setting, Śrī Maheśvara is instructing on norms of conduct (dharma), specifically describing the qualities and religious standing of a ‘sādhvī’ wife and how such conduct is linked to merit.