Shloka 22
Ajñātavāsa-saṅkalpaḥ — Yudhiṣṭhira’s Resolve and Dhaumya’s Exempla on Concealment
तपसा गुरुभवत्या च भर्तुः स्नेहाद् ब्रतेन च । तव चैव प्रसादेन न मे प्रतिहता गति:,तपस्या, गुरुभक्ति, पतिप्रेम, व्रतपालन तथा आपकी कृपासे मेरी गति कहीं भी रुक नहीं सकती
tapasā gurubhavatyā ca bhartuḥ snehād vratena ca | tava caiva prasādena na me pratihatā gatiḥ ||
యముడు పలికెను—నీ తపస్సు, గురువుల పట్ల భక్తిసేవ, భర్తపై ప్రేమ, వ్రతాచరణ, అలాగే నీ ప్రసాదం వల్ల నా గతి ఎక్కడా అడ్డుపడదు।
यम उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that steadfast dharma—expressed through tapas (self-discipline), respect for elders/teachers, love and loyalty within marriage, and faithful observance of vows—creates a moral-spiritual force that removes obstacles; even a divine power like Yama acknowledges being constrained or enabled by such righteousness and grace.
Yama addresses a virtuous woman (implied by the qualities praised) and declares that due to her austerity, guru-devotion, conjugal love, vow-keeping, and her favor, his movement or intended course cannot be impeded—highlighting the narrative motif that exceptional virtue can influence even cosmic authorities.