Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 17
Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)
यदि मेरे पति किसी आवश्यक कार्यवश कभी परदेश जाते तो मैं नियमसे रहकर उनके कल्याणके लिये नाना प्रकारके मांगलिक कार्य किया करती थी ।।
ajjanaṃ rocanāṃ caiva snānaṃ mālyānulepanam | prasādhanaṃ ca niṣkrānte nābhinandāmi bhartari ||
Wika ni Bhishma: “Kapag ang aking asawa’y lumisan mula sa bahay, hindi ako nalulugod sa pag-aayos ng sarili—hindi ako naglalagay ng koliryo sa mata, hindi nagtatatak ng gorocanā sa noo, hindi naliligo nang may langis, hindi nagsusuot ng kuwintas na bulaklak, hindi nagpapahid ng pabango, ni gumagawa ng anumang pagpapaganda. Sa kanyang pagliban, pinipigil ko ang sarili at nagsasagawa ng mga mapalad na ritwal para sa kanyang kapakanan.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined restraint and loyalty: in a husband’s absence, a wife refrains from personal adornment and instead maintains vows and performs auspicious acts directed toward his welfare—an ethic of self-control and devotion within household dharma.
Bhishma, while instructing on conduct and duties, cites a model of wifely behavior: when the husband is away, she does not indulge in beautification (kohl, tilaka, oil-bath, garlands, perfumes, ornamentation), emphasizing modesty and concern for his well-being.