Shloka 35
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
सुस्वभावा सुवचना सुवृत्ता सुखदर्शना । अनन्यचित्ता सुमुखी भर्तु: सा धर्मचारिणी
susvabhāvā suvacanā suvṛttā sukhadarśanā | ananyacittā sumukhī bhartuḥ sā dharmacāriṇī ||
مہیشور نے کہا—جس عورت کا مزاج نیک ہو، گفتار شیریں ہو، کردار پاکیزہ ہو؛ جس کے دیدار سے شوہر کو خوشی ملے؛ جس کا دل شوہر کے سوا کسی اور مرد کی طرف مائل نہ ہو؛ اور جو اپنے مالک کے سامنے ہمیشہ خوش رو رہے—وہی استری دھرم پر چلنے والی مانی جاتی ہے۔
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines a dharma-practicing wife through inner disposition and outward conduct: good nature, kind speech, virtuous behavior, pleasing presence, exclusive fidelity in thought, and a consistently respectful, cheerful demeanor toward her husband. It frames household dharma as grounded in character, restraint, and devoted partnership.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Śrī Maheśvara is giving normative guidance on dharma. Here he enumerates qualities by which a woman is recognized as dharmacāriṇī, presenting an ethical ideal for marital life within the broader discourse on duties and righteous conduct.