Shloka 51
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
यम उवाच यथा यथा भाषसि धर्मसंहितं मनोअ<नुकूलं सुपद॑ महार्थवत् | तथा तथा मे त्वयि भक्तिरुत्तमा वरं वृणीष्वाप्रतिमं पतिव्रते,यमराज बोले--पतिव्रते! जैसे-जैसे तू गम्भीर अर्थसे युक्त और सुन्दर पदोंसे विभूषित, मनके अनुकूल धर्मसंगत बातें मुझे सुनाती जा रही है, वैसे-ही-वैसे तेरे प्रति मेरी उत्तम भक्ति बढ़ती जाती है; अतः तू मुझसे कोई अनुपम वर माँग ले
yama uvāca | yathā yathā bhāṣasi dharma-saṃhitaṃ mano'nukūlaṃ supadaṃ mahārthavat | tathā tathā me tvayi bhaktir uttamā varaṃ vṛṇīṣvāpratimaṃ pativrate ||
Yama disse: “Ó esposa fiel, devotada ao teu marido! Quanto mais me falas palavras em harmonia com o dharma—agradáveis à mente, ornadas de expressões bem escolhidas e ricas em sentido profundo—tanto mais cresce em mim a mais alta benevolência e devoção por ti. Portanto, escolhe de mim uma dádiva incomparável.”
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
Speech grounded in dharma—truthful, meaningful, and well-expressed—has ethical power: it wins trust and evokes reverence even from a divine judge like Yama. The verse highlights that inner virtue expressed through disciplined speech can transform a situation and merit grace (a boon).
Yama addresses a pativratā woman and praises the way she has been speaking: her words are dharmic, pleasing, and profound. Moved by her conduct and speech, Yama’s devotion and goodwill toward her increase, and he invites her to ask for an incomparable boon.