Anushasana Parva Adhyaya 152 Shloka 51 - Mahabharata | Sanskrit | Vedapath

Vyasa

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Shloka 51

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

श्वश्रूश्वशुरयो: पादौ जोषयन्ती गुणान्विता । मातापितृपरा नित्यं या नारी सा तपोधना

Transliteration

śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥ pādau joṣayantī guṇānvitā | mātāpitr̥parā nityaṁ yā nārī sā tapodhanā ||

Translation

श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः पादौ जोषयन्ती गुणान्विता । मातापितृपरा नित्यं या नारी सा तपोधना ॥

Word by Word

श्वश्रू-श्वशुरयोःof (her) mother-in-law and father-in-law

पादौthe two feet

जोषयन्तीserving / attending upon

गुणान्विताendowed with virtues

माता-पितृ-पराdevoted to mother and father

नित्यम्always

याwho (she who)

नारीwoman

साshe

तपोधनाone whose wealth is austerity (rich in tapas)

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī Mahādeva (Mahāśvara/Śiva)

mother-in-law (śvaśrū)

father-in-law (śvaśura)

mother (mātā)

father (pitṛ)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that sustained reverential service to one’s in-laws, together with unwavering devotion to one’s own parents, is itself a form of tapas; such conduct is praised as a spiritual ‘wealth’ grounded in virtue and household dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Mahādeva is instructing about ethical ideals within household life, describing the qualities and conduct by which a woman is honored—specifically, her consistent service to elders and steadfast filial devotion.