इदमेव व्रतं स्त्रीणामयमेवपरो वृषः 4.1.4.
This alone is the vow for women; this alone is the supreme righteousness.
क्लीबं वा दुरवस्थंवा व्याधितं वृद्धमेव वा
Whether he is impotent, in poor condition, diseased, or even old—
हृष्टाहृष्टेविषण्णास्या विषण्णास्ये प्रिये सदा
Whether her husband is happy or unhappy, with a cheerful or sad face, she should always be devoted.
सर्पिर्लवणतैलादि क्षयेपि च पतिव्रता
Even if there is a lack of ghee, salt, oil, and the like, she remains faithful to her husband.
तीर्थस्नानार्थिनी नारी पतिपादोदकं पिबेत्
A woman desiring to bathe at a sacred place should drink the water from her husband's feet.
व्रतोपवासनियमं पतिमुल्लंघ्य या चरेत्
A woman who undertakes vows, fasts, or disciplines, disregarding her husband—
उक्ता प्रत्युत्तरं दद्याद्या नारी क्रोधतत्परा
A woman who, when spoken to, gives a reply out of anger—
स्त्रीणां हि परमश्चैको नियमः समुदाहृतः
Indeed, for women, one supreme rule has been declared.
उच्चासनं न सेवेत न व्रजेत्परवेश्मसु
One should not use a high seat, nor go into the houses of others.
अपवादो न वक्तव्यः कलहं दूरतस्त्यजेत्
One should not speak slander, and should avoid quarrels from afar.
या भर्तारं परित्यज्य रहश्चरति दुर्मतिः 4.1.4.
A wicked woman who abandons her husband and secretly wanders about—
ताडिता ताडितुं चेच्छेत्सा व्याघ्री वृषदंशिका
If beaten, she wishes to strike back, like a tigress or a viper.
या भर्तारं परित्यज्य मिष्टमऽश्नाति केवलम्
A woman who, abandoning her husband, eats delicious food alone—
या त्वं(हुं) कृत्याऽप्रियं ब्रूते मूका सा जायते खलु
And who speaks unpleasant words with a spell—she indeed becomes mute.
दृष्टिं विलुप्य भर्तुर्या कंचिदन्यं समीक्षते
She who, averting her gaze from her husband, looks at another man—
बाह्यादायांतमालोक्य त्वरिता च जलाशनैः
Having seen someone approaching from outside, she quickly eats and drinks water.
तथैव चाटुवचनैः खेदसंनोदनैः परैः
Likewise, with flattering words and complaints made to others—
मितं ददाति हि पिता मितं भ्राता मितं सुतः
A father gives in measure, a brother in measure, a son in measure.
भर्ता देवो गुरुर्भर्ता धर्म तीर्थ व्रतानि च
The husband is god, the husband is teacher, and he is righteousness, pilgrimage, and vows.
जीवहीनो यथा देहः क्षणादशुचितां व्रजेत्
Just as a body without life instantly becomes impure—
अमंगलेभ्यः सर्वेभ्यो विधवा त्यक्तमंगला 4.1.4.
Among all inauspicious beings, the widow, forsaken of auspiciousness—
विहाय मातरं चैकां सर्वमंगलवर्जिताम
Having abandoned even her mother, she is deprived of all auspiciousness.
कन्याविवाहसमये वाचयेयुरिति द्विजाः
At the time of a maiden's marriage, the twice-born should recite thus.
भर्ता सदानुयातव्यो देहवच्छायया स्त्रिया
A husband must always be followed by a wife, as by her own body and shadow.
अनुव्रजति भर्तारं गृहात्पितृवनं मुदा
She joyfully follows her husband from her father's house to the forest.
व्यालग्राही यथा व्यालं बलादुद्धरते बिलात
As one who seizes a serpent forcibly drags it from its hole—
यमदूताः पलायंते सतीमालोक्य दूरतः ।। अपि दुष्कृतकर्माणं समुत्सृज्य च तत्पतिम्
The messengers of Yama flee far away when they see a faithful wife, abandoning even her sinful husband.
न तथा बिभीमो वह्नेर्नतथा विद्युतो यथा
We do not fear fire so much, nor even lightning, as much as—
तपनस्तप्यतेत्यंतं दहनोपि च दह्यते
The sun burns intensely, and even fire itself is burned.
यावत्स्वलोमसंख्यास्ति तावत्कोट्ययुतानि च
For as many hairs as are on her body, so many crores and tens of millions—