Shloka 51

Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)

Devanagari script

श्वश्रूश्वशुरयो: पादौ जोषयन्ती गुणान्विता । मातापितृपरा नित्यं या नारी सा तपोधना

Transliteration

śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥ pādau joṣayantī guṇānvitā | mātāpitr̥parā nityaṁ yā nārī sā tapodhanā ||

Translation

Mahādeva phán: Người phụ nữ nào đầy đủ đức hạnh, luôn cung kính hầu hạ dưới chân mẹ chồng và cha chồng, lại không ngừng hiếu kính với chính cha mẹ mình—người ấy được xem là giàu có bằng của cải của tapas (công phu khổ hạnh).

Word by Word

• श्वश्रू-श्वशुरयोः: of (her) mother-in-law and father-in-law
• श्वश्रू-श्वशुरयोः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू + श्वशुर
• Form: m/f (mixed), Genitive, Dual

• पादौ: the two feet
• पादौ: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Dual

• जोषयन्ती: serving / attending upon
• जोषयन्ती: Karta
• Type: Verb
• Root: जुष् (सेवने/प्रीतौ) → जोषयत्
• Form: Present (participle), Parasmaipada (causative usage in form), Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• गुणान्विता: endowed with virtues
• गुणान्विता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गुण + अन्वित
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• माता-पितृ-परा: devoted to mother and father
• माता-पितृ-परा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मातृ + पितृ + पर
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य

• या: who (she who)
• या: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• नारी: woman
• नारी: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• सा: she
• सा: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

• तपोधना: one whose wealth is austerity (rich in tapas)
• तपोधना: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् + धन
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Mahādeva (Mahāśvara/Śiva)
• mother-in-law (śvaśrū)
• father-in-law (śvaśura)
• mother (mātā)
• father (pitṛ)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches that sustained reverential service to one’s in-laws, together with unwavering devotion to one’s own parents, is itself a form of tapas; such conduct is praised as a spiritual ‘wealth’ grounded in virtue and household dharma.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Mahādeva is instructing about ethical ideals within household life, describing the qualities and conduct by which a woman is honored—specifically, her consistent service to elders and steadfast filial devotion.