Shloka 473

Devanagari script

दारेष्वधीनो धर्मश्न॒ पितृणामात्मनस्तथा | “वह उज्ज्वल कीर्तिसे भ्रष्ट हो जाता है और उसे उत्तम लोकोंकी प्राप्ति नहीं होती। धर्म, काम और अर्थ-सम्बन्धी कार्य, सेवा-शुश्रूषा तथा वंशपरम्पराकी रक्षा--ये सब स्त्रीके ही अधीन हैं। पितरोंका तथा अपना धर्म भी पत्नीके ही आश्रित है

Transliteration

dāreṣv adhīno dharmaś ca pitṝṇām ātmanaḥ tathā |

Translation

Nakula says that a man’s dharma depends upon his wife: through her are sustained service and proper attendance in the household, the continuance and protection of the family line, and the orderly pursuit of dharma, kāma, and artha. Even the duties owed to one’s ancestors, as well as one’s own righteous standing, rest upon the support of the wife; without honoring this dependence, one falls from bright fame and does not attain the higher worlds.

Word by Word

दारेषुin/under (one's) wives; with regard to wives

अधीनःdependent; under the control (of)

धर्मश्चand dharma (righteous duty)

पितृणाम्of the ancestors (manes)

आत्मनःof oneself

तथाlikewise; so too

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nakula

wife (dārāḥ)

pitṛs (ancestors)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.