Mahabharata — Anushasana Parva, Shloka 13
छत्रोपानहदानफलप्रशंसा — Praise of the Merit of Donating Umbrella and Footwear
प्रत्याजगाम च शरांस्तानादाय यशस्विनी
pratyājagāma ca śarāṁs tān ādāya yaśasvinī | reṇukā sundarāṅgī tān bāṇān gṛhītvā nivṛttā tadā bhṛśaṁ khinnābhavat | pādāgnidāhajanitaṁ duḥkhaṁ kathaṁcid sahamānā patibhayāt tharatharā kampamānā teṣāṁ samīpam āyayau ||
毗湿摩说：“名声卓著、肢体秀美的勒努迦捧着那些箭回来了。那时她极其凄惶——强忍着双足如火灼烧般的痛楚，又因惧怕丈夫而浑身战栗，走近他们。”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the ethical strain that arises when duty or obedience is driven by fear rather than mutual righteousness. It invites reflection on dharma in household relations—authority should not become a cause of cruelty or terror, and endurance under coercion is portrayed as painful and morally fraught.
Renuka returns carrying the arrows she was sent to fetch. She is physically suffering (her feet feel burned) and emotionally shaken, approaching while trembling because she fears her husband’s reaction.