Shloka 35
Adhyāya 152 — Bhīṣma’s Authorization for Yudhiṣṭhira’s Return to the Capital (नगरप्रवेशानुज्ञा)
सुस्वभावा सुवचना सुवृत्ता सुखदर्शना । अनन्यचित्ता सुमुखी भर्तु: सा धर्मचारिणी
susvabhāvā suvacanā suvṛttā sukhadarśanā | ananyacittā sumukhī bhartuḥ sā dharmacāriṇī ||
摩诃湿伐罗说道：女子若性情淑良，言辞柔和，行止端正；其在侧便令夫君心悦；其心不向夫君之外的任何男子；并且在夫前常怀和颜悦色——便可称为行持正法之人。此处以对夫之贞信与恭敬奉事，作为以法为本的家居伦理之标志，并作为同享法果功德的根基。
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse defines a dharma-practicing wife through inner disposition and outward conduct: good nature, kind speech, virtuous behavior, pleasing presence, exclusive fidelity in thought, and a consistently respectful, cheerful demeanor toward her husband. It frames household dharma as grounded in character, restraint, and devoted partnership.
In Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Śrī Maheśvara is giving normative guidance on dharma. Here he enumerates qualities by which a woman is recognized as dharmacāriṇī, presenting an ethical ideal for marital life within the broader discourse on duties and righteous conduct.