Shloka 44

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

Devanagari script

दरिद्रं व्याधितं दीनमध्वना परिकर्शितम्‌ | पतिं पुत्रमिवोषपास्ते सा नारी धर्मभागिनी

Transliteration

daridraṁ vyādhitaṁ dīnam adhvanā parikarśitam | patiṁ putram ivoṣapāste sā nārī dharmabhāginī ||

Translation

మహేశ్వరుడు పలికెను—భర్త దరిద్రుడైనా, వ్యాధిగ్రస్తుడైనా, దీనుడైనా, మార్గకష్టాలతో క్షీణించినవాడైనా, అతనిని కుమారుని వలె సేవించే స్త్రీయే ధర్మభాగిని.

Word by Word

• दरिद्रम्: poor
• दरिद्रम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दरिद्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• व्याधितम्: afflicted by illness
• व्याधितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधित
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दीनम्: wretched, miserable
• दीनम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दीन
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अध्वना: by travel / by the journey
• अध्वना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अध्वन्
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• परिकर्शितम्: worn down, emaciated
• परिकर्शितम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि-√कृष्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• पुत्रम्: son
• पुत्रम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• इव: like, as if
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव

• उपास्ते: serves, attends upon
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-√आस्
• Form: Present, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: तद्
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मभागिनी: a sharer in dharma (faithful wife)
• धर्मभागिनी: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-भागिनी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrīmaheśvara
• pati (husband)
• nārī (wife/woman)
• putra (son)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Dharma in household life is shown through compassionate, steadfast service: a wife who cares for her husband even in poverty, illness, and hardship is called dharmabhāginī, a true participant in righteousness.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrīmaheśvara is describing the ideal conduct of a devoted wife, emphasizing her attentive care for a husband who is weakened by destitution, disease, and the strain of travel.