Shloka 23
Kāṣṭhīlā-Ākhyāna: Ratnāvalī’s Return, Co-wife Dharma, and the Phālguna Propitiation
इयं तु राक्षसी दृष्ट्वा पतिं स्वं धर्मदूषकम् । विप्रेण संविदं कृत्वा दांपत्ये निजकर्मणा ॥ २३ ॥
iyaṃ tu rākṣasī dṛṣṭvā patiṃ svaṃ dharmadūṣakam | vipreṇa saṃvidaṃ kṛtvā dāṃpatye nijakarmaṇā || 23 ||
কিন্তু এই রাক্ষসী, নিজের স্বামীকে ধর্মদূষক দেখে, এক ব্রাহ্মণের সঙ্গে চুক্তি করল এবং নিজের কর্মে দাম্পত্যজীবন তদনুযায়ী স্থির করল।
Narada (narrative voice within the Uttara-Bhaga dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It highlights vigilance in dharma: when close relationships become sources of adharma, one should seek righteous counsel (here, a brāhmaṇa) and act deliberately to preserve moral order.
Indirectly, it supports bhakti by insisting on dharmic alignment in daily life; devotion to Vishnu is sustained by conduct that avoids dharma-corruption and seeks guidance from the virtuous.
The verse points to smārta-dharma praxis rather than a specific Vedāṅga; practically, it emphasizes seeking brāhmaṇa guidance for correct conduct and social-ritual propriety (ācāra).