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.
तर्पणं प्रत्यहं कार्यं भर्तुः कुशतिलोदकैः 4.1.4.
She should perform daily libations for her husband with water, kusa grass, and sesame.
विष्णोस्तु पूजनं कार्यं पति बुद्ध्या न चान्यथा
She should worship Vishnu with the thought of her husband, not otherwise.
यद्यदिष्टतमं लोके यच्च पत्युः समीहितम्
Whatever is most desired in the world, and whatever is wished by her husband,
वैशाखे कार्तिके माघे विशेषनियमांश्चरेत्
She should observe special vows in the months of Vaisakha, Kartika, and Magha.
वैशाखे जलकुंभांश्च कार्तिके घृतदीपकाः
In Vaisakha, water pots; in Kartika, lamps of ghee should be offered.
प्रपा कार्या च वैशाखे देवे देया गलंतिका
A water station should be established in Vaisakha, and garlands given to the gods.
सकर्पूरं च तांबूलं पुष्पदानं तथैव च
Camphor, betel, and the offering of flowers should likewise be given.
पानानि च विचित्राणि द्राक्षा रंभा फलानि च
Various drinks, grapes, bananas, and fruits should be offered.
ऊर्जे यवान्नमश्नीयादेकान्नमथवा पुनः
In the month of Urja, she should eat barley food, or a single meal again.
कार्तिके वर्जयेत्तैलं कार्तिके वर्जये न्मधु
In Kartika, she should avoid oil; in Kartika, she should avoid honey.