Shloka 4
Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)
अथोपविष्टश्न यदा तस्मिन् भद्रासने तदा । स्नापयामास शनकैस्तमृषिं सुखहस्तवत्,जब वे उस सुन्दर चौकीपर बैठ गये तब उस स्त्रीने धीरे-धीरे हाथोंके कोमल स्पर्शसे उन्हें नहलाया
athopaviṣṭaś ca yadā tasmin bhadrāsane tadā | snāpayāmāsa śanakaiḥ tam ṛṣiṃ sukhahastavat ||
ముని ఆ శుభాసనంపై కూర్చున్న వెంటనే, ఆ స్త్రీ మెల్లగా మెల్లగా తన మృదువైన, సుఖదాయకమైన స్పర్శగల చేతులతో భక్తిపూర్వకంగా ఆయనకు స్నానం చేయించింది।
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dharmic hospitality and reverent service: once a worthy guest (here, a sage) is properly seated, one should attend to his comfort with gentleness and respect, treating service as an ethical duty rather than mere formality.
After the sage sits on an auspicious seat, a woman attends to him by bathing him slowly and gently, using soft, comforting hands—depicting careful, respectful care offered to an honored ascetic.