Vānaprastha-dharma and Tapas: Śiva–Umā Saṃvāda
Forest-Stage Discipline and Austerity
मध्यमं तु तदा पत्नी भुद्धक्तेडनुज्ञातमेव हि
madhyamaṁ tu tadā patnī buddhakted anujñātam eva hi
Then the wife of middling status was indeed permitted—having been duly assented to—so that what was proper might proceed in accordance with the established order and consent.
देवदूत उवाच
The verse foregrounds dharmic procedure: actions within household and social life should proceed through proper authorization and consent, respecting established roles and order.
A divine messenger describes that, at that moment, the wife described as ‘middling’ was granted permission/approval, indicating that the next step in the account proceeds with due assent rather than arbitrariness.