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—
धन्या सा जननी लोके धन्योसौ जनकः पुनः 4.1.4.
Blessed is that mother in the world, and blessed again is that father.
पितृवंश्यामातृवंश्याःपतिवंश्यास्त्रयस्त्रयः
Three lineages—of the father, the mother, and the husband—
शीलभंगेन दुर्वृत्ताः पातयंति कुलत्रयम्
The wicked, by breaking virtue, bring down all three families.
पतिव्रतायाश्चरणो यत्र यत्र स्पृशेद्भुवम्
Wherever the foot of a devoted wife touches the earth—
बिभ्यत्पतिव्रतास्पर्शं कुरुते भानुमानपि
Even the sun fears to touch a devoted wife.
आपः पतिव्रता स्पर्शमभिलष्यंति सर्वदा
The waters always desire the touch of a devoted wife.
गृहेगृहे न किं नार्यो रूपलावण्यगर्विताः
Is there any house where women, proud of their beauty and charm, are not found?
भार्या मूलं गृहस्थस्य भार्या मूलं सुखस्य च
The wife is the root of the householder, and the wife is the root of happiness too.
परलोकस्त्वयं लोको जीयते भार्यया द्वयम्
Both this world and the next are sustained by the wife.
गृहस्थः स हि विज्ञेयो यस्य गेहे पतिव्रता
He alone should be known as a householder in whose house there is a devoted wife.