Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
एष देव मया प्रोक्तः स्त्रीधर्मो वचनात् तव । या त्वेवंभाविनी नारी सा पतिव्रतभागिनी
eṣa deva mayā proktaḥ strīdharmaḥ vacanāt tava | yā tv evaṃbhāvinī nārī sā pativratabhāginī ||
தேவா! உமது ஆணைப்படி நான் இந்த ஸ்த்ரீதர்மத்தை எடுத்துரைத்தேன். இவ்வாறு தன் வாழ்வை அமைத்துக் கொள்கின்ற பெண், பதிவிரதை விரதத்தின் பலனில் பங்குடையவள் ஆவாள்.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
The verse affirms that the previously described strīdharma, taught under divine instruction, yields spiritual merit: a woman who lives in accordance with that code becomes a participant in the fruit of pativratā—devotional fidelity understood as a sacred vow.
Maheśvara concludes or seals his exposition by stating that he has delivered the teaching on women’s dharma at the Lord’s command, and he declares the promised result: the woman who embodies that teaching attains the merit associated with pativratā.