Shloka 65
Chapter 2: Sudarśana Upākhyāna — Atithi-Dharma and the Conquest of Mṛtyu
Gṛhastha-Vrata
अनया हनन््द्यमानो*हं भार्यया तव सत्तम | तैस्तैरतिथिसत्कारैर््रेद्य॒न्नेषा वृता मया
anayā hanadyamāno ’haṃ bhāryayā tava sattama | tais tair atithi-satkārair īpsitaṃ meṣā vṛtā mayā ||
Bhīṣma nói: “Hỡi bậc ưu tú trong loài người, tuy ta bị vợ ngươi thúc giục, nàng đã nguyện sẽ làm trọn ý ta bằng việc tiếp đãi khách theo đúng lễ nghi. Vì những hành vi hiếu khách ấy, hỡi bậc hiền đức tối thượng, ta đã chọn nàng.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights atithi-dharma (the duty of honoring guests) as a powerful ethical commitment: sincere hospitality and the keeping of one’s pledged word can determine social and moral outcomes, earning acceptance and trust.
Bhishma explains that, although he was being urged by the woman (described as the listener’s wife), she promised to satisfy his wish through acts of guest-honoring; on the strength of that pledge and her hospitality, he accepted/selected her.