Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13

Umā’s Inquiry and the Manifestation of the Third Eye (उमा–प्रश्नः तृतीयनेत्रोत्पत्तिः)

Devanagari script

कार्यार्थ निर्गतं चापि भर्तारें गृहमागतम्‌ । आसनेनोपसंयोज्य पूजयामि समाहिता

Transliteration

kāryārtha-nirgataṃ cāpi bhartāraṃ gṛham āgatam | āsanenopasaṃyojya pūjayāmi samāhitā ||

Translation

毗湿摩说：“我的丈夫因事外出，归家之时，我便起身，恭敬地请他就坐于相称之座；并以摄心专注之意，礼敬奉事于他。”

Word by Word

• कार्यार्थम्: for a purpose/work (errand)
• कार्यार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• निर्गतम्: gone out, departed
• निर्गतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्गम् (धातु) → निर्गत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• अपि: also, even
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• भर्तारम्: husband, lord
• भर्तारम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• गृहम्: to the house, home
• गृहम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आगतम्: come, returned
• आगतम्: Karma
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आगम् (धातु) → आगत (कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• आसनेन: with a seat; by (offering) a seat
• आसनेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• उपसंयोज्य: having seated (him), having made (him) sit
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-सम्-युज् (धातु) → उपसंयोज्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्)
• Form: अव्ययभाव (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)

• पूजयामि: I worship/honor
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (वर्तमान), उत्तम, एकवचन

• समाहिता: collected, attentive, with concentrated mind
• समाहिता: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु) → समाहित (कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Bhishma
• husband (bhartā)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights household dharma expressed through respectful reception and mindful service: honouring a returning family member (here, the husband) by offering a seat and attending with a composed mind, making everyday conduct an ethical discipline.

What is happening in the narrative?

The speaker describes a personal practice: whenever her husband returned home after going out for some work, she would rise, seat him properly, and honour him with focused attention—an example used to illustrate ideals of conduct within the household.