Shloka 56
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
पतिप्रसाद: स्वर्गो वा तुल्यो नार्या न वा भवेत् । अहं स्वर्ग न हीच्छेयं त्वय्यप्रीते महेश्वरे
patiprasādaḥ svargo vā tulyo nāryā na vā bhavet | ahaṃ svargaṃ na hīccheyaṃ tvayy aprīte maheśvare ||
“Se a aprovação graciosa do marido e o céu podem de fato ser considerados iguais aos olhos de uma mulher—isso, por si só, é duvidoso. Ó Maheśvara, senhor da minha vida! Eu não desejaria o céu se isso significasse deixar-te descontente.”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse elevates devoted relational dharma over external rewards: spiritual merit (svarga) is not worth pursuing if it requires causing displeasure to the revered lord/husband; true virtue is framed as loyalty, love, and prioritizing righteous relationship above personal gain.
A speaker addresses Maheśvara, declaring that even heaven is undesirable if it comes at the cost of his displeasure, contrasting celestial reward with the value of the beloved lord’s approval.