Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 23
अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः
Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel
दुश्शीलः कामवृत्तो वा धनैर्वा परिवर्जितः।स्त्रीणामार्यस्वभावानां परमं दैवतं पतिः।।।।
duśśīlaḥ kāmavṛtto vā dhanair vā parivarjitaḥ |
strīṇām āryasvabhāvānāṃ paramaṃ daivataṃ patiḥ ||
“For women of noble disposition, the husband is held as the highest sacred authority—whether he is ill-conducted, pleasure-driven, or even lacking in wealth.”
For a woman of noble nature her husband, whether he be licentious or of bad character or devoid of riches, is her supreme lord.
FAQs
It teaches a conservative dharma-ideal where marital reverence is maintained independent of the husband’s external qualities like wealth or residence.
Anasūyā continues her counsel to Sītā, articulating norms of pativratā-dharma as understood in the epic’s moral world.
Śraddhā (reverent commitment) and unwavering adherence to one’s chosen duty.