Shloka 18
The Deeds of Sukalā (Vena Episode): Husband as Tīrtha & Pativratā-Dharma
नास्त्यासां हि पृथग्धर्मः पतिशुश्रूषणं विना । तस्मात्कांतसहायं ते कुर्वाणा सुखदायिनी
nāstyāsāṃ hi pṛthagdharmaḥ patiśuśrūṣaṇaṃ vinā | tasmātkāṃtasahāyaṃ te kurvāṇā sukhadāyinī
Wahrlich, für solche Frauen gibt es keine eigene Pflicht außer dem hingebungsvollen Dienst am Gatten. Darum wirst du, indem du deinen Geliebten zum Gefährten und Halt machst, zur Spenderin des Glücks.
Unspecified (narrative context not provided in the input excerpt)
Concept: For a married woman in this dharma-frame, dedicated service to the husband is presented as the central duty; companionship and mutual support become the basis of household happiness.
Application: Cultivate supportive partnership: align speech and action toward harmony, care, and shared responsibility; treat relational duties as spiritual discipline.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composed scene of a couple seated together near a household fire-altar, hands joined in a gesture of mutual support, while a gentle teacher-figure indicates that harmony itself is dharma. The background shows a tulasī planter and a small Viṣṇu emblem, suggesting Vaiṣṇava sanctification of domestic life.","primary_figures":["householder woman (pativratā)","husband","teaching sage/narrator"],"setting":"courtyard with a small homa-kunda, tulasī pot, and a modest Viṣṇu shrine niche","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["warm saffron","smoke gray","lotus pink","peacock blue","fresh green"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: a harmonious gṛhastha couple as sahadharmī, seated by a small sacred fire and Viṣṇu shrine; gold leaf detailing on jewelry, fire flames, and shrine arch; rich reds/greens, ornate lotus borders, symmetrical devotional composition.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tender domestic companionship, refined faces, delicate textiles, soft dawn light; a small tulasī plant and shrine in the corner; cool blues and pinks with fine floral margins and lyrical calm.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlines, stylized eyes; the couple and sage in a temple-wall aesthetic; warm yellows and greens, rhythmic decorative bands, a glowing fire rendered in flat yet vibrant pigment fields.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central shrine motif with lotus borders; the couple depicted as devotees before Krishna-Viṣṇu, emphasizing companionship; deep blues, gold highlights, intricate floral patterns, peacocks as auspicious accents."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"didactic","suggested_raga":"Bhupali","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"serene","sound_elements":["soft birdsong","gentle fire crackle","distant conch"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नास्ति + आसाम् → नास्त्यासाम्; तस्मात् + कान्तसहायम् → तस्मात्कान्तसहायम्; च + अस्याः → चास्याः (not in this verse).
FAQs
It states that a wife’s primary dharma is devoted care and service to her husband, portraying marital companionship as a source of happiness.
No. In this excerpt, no deities, tīrthas, or mythic locations are explicitly named; it focuses on ethical and household duty (gṛhastha-dharma).
The verse emphasizes loyalty, attentive care, and cooperative companionship within marriage as a moral ideal, framing such conduct as beneficial and happiness-giving.