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 ||
Wika ni Bhīṣma: Nang makaupo na ang pantas sa mapalad na upuang iyon, marahan at dahan-dahan siyang pinaliguan ng babae, sa mga kamay na may haplos na malambot at nakaaaliw—isang maingat na paglilingkod na nagpapakita ng paggalang sa isang asetiko at ng dharma ng pagtanggap sa panauhin.
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.