Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)
भीष्मजी कहते हैं--राजन्! ऋषिकी बात सुनकर उस स्त्रीने कहा--“बहुत अच्छा, ऐसा ही हो” यों कहकर वह दिव्य तेल और स्नानोपयोगी वस्त्र ले आयी ।।
bhīṣma uvāca | rājann ṛṣikīṃ vācaṃ śrutvā sā strī pratyuvāca—“sādhu, evam eva bhavatu” iti | evaṃ uktvā sā divyaṃ tailaṃ snānopayogī ca vāsas ājahāra || anujñātā ca muninā sā strī tena mahātmanā | athāsya tailenāṅgāni sarvāṇy evābhyamṛkṣat ||
Bhīṣma disse: “Ó rei, ao ouvir as palavras do rishi, aquela mulher respondeu: ‘Muito bem — que seja exatamente assim.’ Dito isso, trouxe óleo divino e vestes adequadas para o banho. Então, tendo recebido permissão daquele sábio de grande alma, ungiu com o óleo todos os seus membros.”
भीष्म उवाच
The passage highlights dharmic service and respectful compliance: when a righteous authority (the sage) gives instruction, the proper response is willing cooperation, expressed through attentive care and acts that support purity and well-being.
A woman, after hearing the sage’s instruction, agrees and brings divine oil and bathing garments. With the sage’s permission, she massages/anoints his entire body with oil as part of a bathing or purification-related act.