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Shloka 473

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

दारेष्वधीनो धर्मश्न॒ पितृणामात्मनस्तथा | “वह उज्ज्वल कीर्तिसे भ्रष्ट हो जाता है और उसे उत्तम लोकोंकी प्राप्ति नहीं होती। धर्म

dāreṣv adhīno dharmaś ca pitṝṇām ātmanaḥ tathā |

يقول ناكولا إنّ دارما الرجل متعلّقة بزوجته: فبها تُصان الخدمة وحسن القيام بأمر البيت، وتستمرّ السلالة وتُحمى، وتنتظم السعي في الدارما والكاما والأرثا. بل إنّ الواجبات نحو الأسلاف، وكذلك ثبات المرء على الاستقامة، إنما يقومان على سند الزوجة؛ ومن لم يوقّر هذا الاعتماد سقطت عنه الشهرة المضيئة ولم ينل العوالم العليا.

दारेषुin/under (one's) wives; with regard to wives
दारेषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootदार (पत्नी/भार्या)
FormMasculine, Locative, Plural
अधीनःdependent; under the control (of)
अधीनः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootअधीन
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
धर्मश्चand dharma (righteous duty)
धर्मश्च:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootधर्म
FormMasculine, Nominative, Singular
पितृणाम्of the ancestors (manes)
पितृणाम्:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootपितृ
FormMasculine, Genitive, Plural
आत्मनःof oneself
आत्मनः:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Genitive, Singular
तथाlikewise; so too
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा

नकुल उवाच

N
Nakula
W
wife (dārāḥ)
P
pitṛs (ancestors)

Educational Q&A

Householder dharma is portrayed as inseparable from the wife’s role: family continuity, proper service within the home, and even obligations to ancestors are said to depend on her support; neglecting this leads to loss of reputation and spiritual merit.

Nakula is speaking in a didactic context, emphasizing the ethical and religious importance of the wife within household life and framing her as central to sustaining dharma and ancestral obligations.