Shloka 30
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
पतिशुश्रूषया धर्मो यः स मे रोचते द्विज । दैवतेष्वपि सर्वेषु भर्ता मे दैवतं परम्,विप्रवर! मुझे तो पतिकी सेवासे जो धर्म प्राप्त होता है, वही अधिक पसंद है। सम्पूर्ण देवताओंमें भी पति ही मेरे सबसे बड़े देवता हैं
patiśuśrūṣayā dharmo yaḥ sa me rocate dvija | daivateṣv api sarveṣu bhartā me daivataṁ param ||
“O dalawang-beses-na-ipinanganak, ang dharma na dumarating sa akin sa tapat na paglilingkod sa aking asawa ang siyang pinakamahalaga sa akin. Kahit sa gitna ng lahat ng mga diyos, ang aking asawa ang pinakamataas na kabanalan para sa akin.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The speaker asserts that her primary dharma is faithful service to her husband, treating that marital duty as the highest form of religious devotion—even above worship directed to other deities.
In a dialogue within the Vana Parva, a Brahmin speaker addresses a ‘dvija’ and explains her ethical stance: she prefers the dharma gained through serving her husband and regards him as her supreme deity.