Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
देवि! तुम दिव्य ज्ञानसे सम्पन्न और देवलोकमें सर्वश्रेष्ठ हो। दिव्य पुण्योंके साथ तुम्हारा प्रादुर्भाव हुआ है। तुम्हीं हम सब लोगोंको स्त्री-धर्मका उपदेश देनेके योग्य हो ।।
devi! tvaṃ divya-jñānena sampannā devaloke sarvaśreṣṭhā asi | divyaiḥ puṇyaiḥ sārdhaṃ tava prādurbhāvo jātaḥ | tvam eva asmān sarvān strī-dharmopadeśe yogyā asi || tataḥ sā rādhiṭā devī gaṅgayā bahubhir guṇaiḥ | prāha sarvam aśeṣeṇa strī-dharmaṃ surasundarī ||
Sinabi ni Maheshvara: “O Diyosa! Taglay mo ang banal na kaalaman at ikaw ang pinakadakila sa daigdig ng mga diyos. Ang iyong pagpapakita ay sumibol kasabay ng makalangit na kabutihang-loob at gantimpala. Ikaw lamang ang karapat-dapat magturo sa aming lahat tungkol sa strī-dharma—ang mga tungkulin at wastong asal ng babae.” Pagkaraan, nang si Diyosa Umā—ang marikit na dalagang makalangit—ay purihin at sambahin ni Gangā sa maraming papuri sa kanyang mga kagandahang-asal, inilahad niya nang walang iniwan ang ganap na aral tungkol sa strī-dharma, gaya ng nararapat sa isang babaeng makalangit.
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
The verse establishes Uma’s authority to teach strī-dharma: because she is divinely wise, pre-eminent among the gods, and manifested with sacred merit, she is presented as uniquely qualified to give a complete ethical instruction on women’s duties and conduct.
Maheśvara addresses Devī, praising her divine knowledge and fitness to instruct. After Gaṅgā worships and extols Uma’s virtues, Uma begins to expound the full teaching of strī-dharma in a comprehensive manner.