Shloka 11
उद्योगपर्व — विदुरनीतिः (Adhyāya 37): आयुःक्षयहेतवः, नीतिसूत्राणि, बलभेदाः, पाण्डव-विग्रहदोषदर्शनम्
पूजनीया महाभागा: पुण्याश्च गृहदीप्तय: । स्त्रिय: श्रियो गृहस्योक्तास्तस्माद् रक्ष्या विशेषत:,स्त्रियाँ घरकी लक्ष्मी कही गयी हैं। ये अत्यन्त सौभाग्यशालिनी, आदरके योग्य, पवित्र तथा घरकी शोभा हैं; अतः इनकी विशेषरूपसे रक्षा करनी चाहिये
pūjanīyā mahābhāgāḥ puṇyāś ca gṛhadīptayaḥ | striyaḥ śriyo gṛhasyoktās tasmād rakṣyā viśeṣataḥ ||
Vidura declares that women are to be honored: they are greatly fortunate, pure, and the very radiance of the household. Indeed, they are spoken of as the household’s prosperity itself; therefore, they must be protected with special care.
विदुर उवाच
Educational Q&A
Women are integral to a household’s auspiciousness and prosperity; hence they deserve honor and must be protected with particular care as a matter of dharma.
In Vidura’s ethical counsel (nīti) during Udyoga Parva, he articulates principles of righteous conduct for social and domestic life, emphasizing reverence and protection for women as the ‘Śrī’ of the household.