
Strī-dharma: Śiva’s Inquiry, Umā’s Consultation, and Gaṅgā’s Instruction
Upa-parva: Strī-dharma Anuśāsana (Instruction on Women’s Conduct / Pativratā-Dharma)
Chapter 134.0 opens with Maheśvara addressing Umā (Himavat’s daughter), praising her ascetic residence and dharma-knowledge, and requesting an exhaustive account of strī-dharma. Umā replies that her speech is enabled by Śiva’s power, yet she opts to consult sacred rivers, acknowledging that comprehensive knowledge is not easily monopolized. The rivers are enumerated with Gaṅgā highlighted as the foremost. Bhīṣma then reports that Gaṅgā, after honoring Umā, accepts the mandate to explain strī-dharma. Gaṅgā’s instruction frames marital dharma as established at marriage near the sacred fire, defining the wife as sahadharmacāriṇī (co-practitioner of dharma). The guidance emphasizes steadiness of mind, respectful service, restraint from extraneous desire, household and ritual duties, care for elders and dependents, charity/maintenance of vulnerable persons, and vow-observance. The discourse culminates in the strong normative claim that the husband functions as the primary relational ‘deity’ for the wife, with the ethic extending to supporting him even under hardship or crisis, interpreted as āpaddharma (duty in distress). The chapter closes with Śiva honoring Umā and the assembly dispersing.
Chapter Arc: Lomasha, as a keeper of hidden dharma, is invoked to reveal a “rahasya” that touches the unseen court of the Pitṛs—beginning with a stern warning about those who stray into forbidden desire. → The discourse sharpens into moral indictment: men attached to another’s wife, those who seek barren unions, and those who seize Brahmin property become alike in fault—rendered unfit for communion with ancestors, their offerings left unwelcomed. → The secret turns from prohibition to potent remedy: Lomasha proclaims a Kali-yuga-suited dharma of great fruit—simple gifts (tilodaka with honey, a lamp, and kṛsara) that directly gladden the Pitṛs and secure enduring merit. → Indra’s authority is cited to seal the teaching: the fruit of the sesame-vessel gift is praised; tilodaka in śrāddha is declared ‘akṣaya’; lamps and kṛsara satisfy the grandsires; the rite is honored in heaven and the Pitṛ-world as an ancient rishi-seen ordinance.
Verse 1
नील (0) ++_अस+- एकोनत्रिशर्दाधिकशततमो<् ध्याय: लोमशद्ारा धर्मके रहस्यका वर्णन लोगश उवाच परदारेषु ये सक्ता अकृत्वा दारसंग्रहम् | निराशा: पितरस्तेषां श्राद्धकाले भवन्ति वै
罗摩沙说道:凡不入正当婚姻而迷恋他人妻者——及至施行施罗陀(śrāddha)祭祖之时,其祖先必然失望;因为此等违背法度之行,败坏了应有的供献与家道之延续。
Verse 2
परदाररतिर्यश्न यश्व वन्ध्यामुपासते । ब्रह्मस्वं हरते यश्ष समदोषा भवन्ति ते
洛迦沙说道:迷恋他人妻者、与不孕之女求合者、盗取婆罗门财物者——此三者被判为同负一等罪咎。
Verse 3
असम्भाष्या भवन्त्येते पितृणां नाज संशय: । देवता: पितरश्रैषां नाभिनन्दन्ति तद्धवि:
洛迦沙说道:“此事无疑——此等之人,在祖灵眼中已不堪与之言。诸天与祖先,亦不以敬意受纳其所献之供物(havis)。”
Verse 4
तस्मात् परस्य वै दारांस्त्यजेद् वन्ध्यां च योषितम् । ब्रह्मस्वं हि न हर्तव्यमात्मनो हितमिच्छता
因此,欲求自身真实福祉者,当远离他人妻,亦当断绝与不孕之女的交往;并且切不可夺取婆罗门之财,因为取夺婆罗门所有之物,乃是求真善者所严禁之事。
Verse 5
श्रूयतां चापरं गुहां रहस्यं धर्मसंहितम् । श्रद्दधानेन कर्तव्यं गुरूणां वचनं सदा,अब दूसरी धर्मयुक्त गोपनीय रहस्यकी बात सुनो। सदा श्रद्धापूर्वक गुरुजनोंकी आज्ञाका पालन करना चाहिये
且听我再说一则秘教——与法(Dharma)相应的内在教义。人当常怀信心与敬信,恒常奉行长者与师长之言与教诲。
Verse 6
द्वादश्यां पौर्णमास्यां च मासि मासि घृताक्षतम् । ब्राह्मणेभ्य: प्रयच्छेत तस्य पुण्यं निबोधत,प्रत्येक मासकी द्वादशी और पूर्णिमाके दिन ब्राह्मणोंको घृतसहित चावलोंका दान करे। इसका जो पुण्य है, उसे सुनो
毗湿摩言:每月之朔望之间,于十二日(Dvādaśī)及满月之日,当以酥油(ghee)拌米粒施与婆罗门。且听我说,明了此恒常持戒之布施所生功德。
Verse 7
सोमश्न वर्धते तेन समुद्रश्न महोदधि: । अश्वमेधचतुर्भागं फलं सृजति वासव:,उस दानसे चन्द्रमा तथा महोदथधि समुद्रकी वृद्धि होती है और उस दाताको इन्द्र अश्वमेध यज्ञका चतुर्थाश फल देते हैं
毗湿摩言:以此施舍,苏摩(Soma,月神)得以滋养,由是大海亦随之增长。又瓦萨瓦(Vāsava,因陀罗)赐予施主相当于马祭(Aśvamedha)功果四分之一之报,昭示一念正施,亦能生起广大如宇宙、等同祭祀之功德。
Verse 8
दानेनैतेन तेजस्वी वीर्यवांश्ष भवेन्नर: । प्रीतश्न॒ भगवान् सोम इष्टान् कामान् प्रयच्छति,उस दानसे मनुष्य तेजस्वी और बलवान होता है और भगवान् सोम प्रसन्न होकर उसे अभीष्ट कामनाएँ प्रदान करते हैं
行此布施者,必得光辉炳然,具足力量与勇武。可敬的苏摩神因其慷慨而欢喜,便赐予施主所求之目标与心所珍愿,显明正施既成就内在德辉,亦招致神明恩佑。
Verse 9
श्रूयतां चापरो धर्म: सरहस्यो महाफल: । इदं कलियुगं प्राप्प मनुष्याणां सुखावह:,अब दूसरे महान् फलदायक रहस्ययुक्त धर्मका वर्णन सुनो। जो इस कलियुगको पाकर मनुष्योंके लिये सुखकी प्राप्ति करानेवाला है
今当再听另一种法——其内义幽秘,而果报宏大。及至迦梨之世(Kali Yuga),此法便成为人间安乐之源,使众生得以安适与欢喜。
Verse 10
कल्यमुत्थाय यो मर्त्य: स्नात: शुक्लेन वाससा । तिलपात्र प्रयच्छेत ब्राह्मणेभ्य: समाहित:
罗摩沙说道:“凡人若于黎明起身沐浴,身着洁净白衣,摄心专注,将盛满芝麻的器皿(tilapātra)施与婆罗门——此人所行乃守持法度之布施,契合达摩,尤与祭奉祖灵之仪轨相应。”
Verse 11
तिलोदकं च यो दद्यात् पितृणां मधुना सह । दीपकं कृसरं चैव श्रूयतां तस्य यत् फलम्
罗摩沙说道:“若有人以蜜同献芝麻水(tilodaka)于诸祖灵(Pitṛ),又施灯明,并施kṛsara(米与豆合煮之食),且听如今他所积得的功德果报。”
Verse 12
तिलपात्रे फलं प्राह भगवान् पाकशासन: । गोप्रदानं च यः कुर्याद् भूमिदानं च शाश्वतम्
罗摩沙说道:“吉祥的帕卡沙萨那(Pākaśāsana,即因陀罗)宣说了施与芝麻满器之果报。凡恒常行施牛、施地之长久大施者——诸天亦承认:施芝麻器之功德,与彼等大施同属一类。”
Verse 13
अग्निष्टोमं च यो यज्ञ यजेत बहुदक्षिणम् । तिलपात्र॑ सहैतेन सम॑ मन्यन्ति देवता:
“凡以丰厚祭资(dakṣiṇā)举行阿耆尼什多摩(Agniṣṭoma)大祭者——诸天视其所得功德,与施与芝麻满器之功德等同。”
Verse 14
तिलोदकं सदा श्राद्धे मन्यन्ते पितरो$क्षयम् । दीपे च कृसरे चैव तुष्यन्तेडस्थ पितामहा:
“诸祖灵认为:在施罗陀(śrāddha)中恒常供献拌芝麻之水,为不尽之施(akṣaya)。又以施灯明与kṛsara(米豆合食),其祖父辈亦得欢喜满足。”
Verse 15
स्वर्गे च पितृलोके च पितृदेवाभिपूजितम् । एवमेतन्मयोद्दिष्टमृषिदृष्टं पुरातनम्
此教诲在天界与祖灵之界(Pitṛ-loka)皆受尊崇,为诸天与诸祖灵(Pitṛs)同所敬奉。故我如是宣说——此乃古老之法,乃昔日圣仙所见所证。
Verse 129
इति श्रीमहाभारते अनुशासनपर्वणि दानधर्मपर्वणि लोमशरहस्ये एकोनत्रिंशदधिकशततमो< ध्याय:
如是,在《圣摩诃婆罗多》中,于《教诫篇》(Anuśāsana Parva)之“布施之法”(dāna-dharma)一节,在罗摩沙(Lomaśa)所叙之《秘教》中,第一百二十九章至此告终。
How strī-dharma should be authoritatively articulated: the chapter frames the issue as both a content question (marital/household obligations) and a method question (legitimacy through consultation and delegated testimony).
That marriage is a shared dharmic institution formed at the wedding rite, requiring disciplined speech and conduct, service to elders and dependents, sustained ritual-household order, and steadiness of loyalty during prosperity and distress.
Yes: Umā explicitly states that no single agent easily encompasses all knowledge, and therefore consults the rivers; this models a Mahābhārata-style epistemology where Dharma is validated through qualified speakers, deliberation, and tradition-linked exemplars.