Shloka 8
Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s Śrāddha Request and Bhīma’s Objection (Āśramavāsika-parva, Adhyāya 17)
गान्धारि परितुष्टो5स्मि वध्वा: शुश्रूषणेन वै । तस्मात् त्वमेनां धर्मज्ञे समनुज्ञातुमहसि
gāndhāri parituṣṭo ’smi vadhvāḥ śuśrūṣaṇena vai | tasmāt tvam enāṃ dharmajñe samanujñātum arhasi ||
اے دھرم کو جاننے والی گاندھاری! بہو کُنتی کی خدمت و تیمارداری سے میں بہت خوش ہوں؛ اس لیے آج تم اسے گھر واپس جانے کی اجازت دے دو۔
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Faithful service (śuśrūṣā) performed with humility is recognized as a dharmic virtue; elders, as guardians of dharma, should respond with fair permission and compassionate release rather than possessiveness.
In the Ashramavāsika setting, an elder addresses Gāndhārī, expressing satisfaction with the daughter-in-law’s devoted attendance and urging Gāndhārī—praised as a knower of dharma—to formally permit her to return home.