Shloka 16
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
उमाने कहा--भगवन्! सर्वभूतेश्वर! भूत
strī ca bhūteśa satataṃ striyam evānudhāvati | mayā sammānitāś caiva bhaviṣyanti saridvarāḥ ||
优摩说道：“世尊啊，万有之主啊——摩诃提婆，至上者，具摄过去、未来与现在之相者——凭借你的威力，我的言语已得启发而光明；如今我能够宣说女子之法（dharma）。然而，诸神之主啊，这些上善之河，汇具一切圣地渡口之水，正向你靠近，为你沐浴与啜饮净水之仪（ācaman），或为触及你的足。与她们商议之后，我将依次陈述女子的本分。唯有那人虽有能力却无傲慢，方可真称为‘男子’。 （偈）“并且，众生之主啊，女子恒常追随女子；而那些被我礼敬的上等诸河，必将成为吉祥而和顺。”
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames dharma-teaching as requiring divine inspiration and humility: true strength is paired with freedom from arrogance. It also signals that women’s conduct (strī-dharma) will be explained in an ordered way, in consultation with sacred rivers—linking ethical instruction with purity, tīrtha-tradition, and reverence.
Umā addresses Śiva (Bhūteśa/Mahādeva), saying her speech has become empowered to teach strī-dharma. She pauses because sacred rivers, bearing tīrtha-waters, approach Śiva for ritual purposes (bathing, sipping, touching his feet). She proposes to consult them and then present the teaching sequentially.