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.
यथा गंगाऽवगाहेन शरीरं पावनं भवेत् 4.1.4.
Just as by bathing in the Ganga the body becomes pure—
अनुयाति न भर्तारं यदि दैवात्कथंचन
If, by fate, a wife does not follow her husband in any way—
तद्वैगुण्यादपिस्वर्गात्पतिः पतति नान्यथा
Because of that fault, the husband falls from heaven, not otherwise.
पत्यौ मृते च यायोषिद्वैधव्यं पालयेत्क्वचित्
And if the husband dies, a woman should observe widowhood in every way.
विधवा कबरीबंधो भर्तृबंधाय जायते
A widow, with her hair unbound, is born for the bondage of her husband.
एकाहारः सदा कार्यो न द्वितीयं कदाचन
She should always eat only once a day, never a second time.
मासोपवासं वा कुर्याच्चांद्रायणमथापि वा
She may observe a monthly fast, or else the Chandrayana vow.
यवान्नैर्वा फलाहारैः शाकाहारैः पयोव्रतैः
She may subsist on barley food, fruits, vegetables, or milk vows.
पर्यंकशायिनी नारी वि धवा पातयेत्पतिम्
A widow who sleeps on a couch causes the downfall of her husband.
न चांगोद्वर्तनं कार्यं स्त्रिया विधवया क्वचित्
A widow should never apply oil to her body.