भर्ता देवो गुरुर्भर्ता धर्म तीर्थ व्रतानि च
The husband is god, the husband is teacher, and so are 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.
A widow, deprived of auspiciousness, is excluded from all auspicious things.
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 her body follows its shadow.
अनुव्रजति भर्तारं गृहात्पितृवनं मुदा
She joyfully follows her husband from her father's house to the forest.
व्यालग्राही यथा व्यालं बलादुद्धरते बिलात
Just as one who catches a snake forcibly pulls it from its hole.
यमदूताः पलायंते सतीमालोक्य दूरतः ।। अपि दुष्कृतकर्माणं समुत्सृज्य च तत्पतिम्
The messengers of Yama flee when they see a virtuous wife from afar; even if her husband has committed evil deeds, they abandon him.
न तथा बिभीमो वह्नेर्नतथा विद्युतो यथा
We do not fear fire so much, nor lightning, as much as—
तपनस्तप्यतेत्यंतं दहनोपि च दह्यते
The sun burns intensely, and even fire is burned.
यावत्स्वलोमसंख्यास्ति तावत्कोट्ययुतानि च
As many as the hairs on her body, so many 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 lines: paternal lineage, maternal lineage, and husband's lineage.
शीलभंगेन दुर्वृत्ताः पातयंति कुलत्रयम्
The wicked, by violating virtue, bring ruin upon three generations of their family.
पतिव्रतायाश्चरणो यत्र यत्र स्पृशेद्भुवम्
Wherever the foot of a devoted wife touches the earth,
बिभ्यत्पतिव्रतास्पर्शं कुरुते भानुमानपि
Even the sun, fearing the touch of a devoted wife, withdraws.
आपः पतिव्रता स्पर्शमभिलष्यंति सर्वदा
Waters always desire the touch of a devoted wife.
गृहेगृहे न किं नार्यो रूपलावण्यगर्विताः
Is there any household where women, proud of their beauty and charm, are not found?
भार्या मूलं गृहस्थस्य भार्या मूलं सुखस्य च
The wife is the foundation of the householder; the wife is also the root of happiness.
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 is to be known as a householder in whose home dwells a devoted wife.
यथा गंगाऽवगाहेन शरीरं पावनं भवेत् 4.1.4.
Just as bathing in the Ganges purifies the body,
अनुयाति न भर्तारं यदि दैवात्कथंचन
If, by fate, a wife does not follow her husband,
तद्वैगुण्यादपिस्वर्गात्पतिः पतति नान्यथा
Because of that fault alone, the husband falls from heaven, not otherwise.
पत्यौ मृते च यायोषिद्वैधव्यं पालयेत्क्वचित्
When her husband has died, a woman should observe widowhood in every way.
विधवा कबरीबंधो भर्तृबंधाय जायते
A widow's hair-knot is made for the sake of her departed husband.
एकाहारः सदा कार्यो न द्वितीयं कदाचन
She should always take only one meal a day, never a second.
मासोपवासं वा कुर्याच्चांद्रायणमथापि वा
She may observe a monthly fast or undertake the Cāndrāyaṇa vow.
यवान्नैर्वा फलाहारैः शाकाहारैः पयोव्रतैः
She may subsist on barley, fruits, vegetables, or milk vows.