Shloka 6
Vyādha–Brāhmaṇa Saṃvāda: Śāpa, Vṛtta-Dharma, and Counsel Against Viṣāda
Grief
पतिव्रतानां माहात्म्यं वक्तुमहसि न: प्रभो । निरुद्धय चेन्द्रियग्रामं मन: संरुध्य चानघ,'प्रभो! आप अब हमें पतिव्रता स्त्रियोंकी महिमा सुनावें। निष्पाप सहर्ष] जो अपनी इन्द्रियोंको संयममें रखती हुई मनको वशमें करके अपने पतिका देवताके समान ही चिन्तन करती रहती हैं, वे नारियाँ धन्य हैं। प्रभो! भगवन्! उनका वह त्याग और सेवाभाव मुझे तो अत्यन्त कठिन जान पड़ता है
Vaiśampāyana uvāca: pativratānāṁ māhātmyaṁ vaktum arhasi naḥ prabho | nirudhya cendriyagrāmaṁ manaḥ saṁrudhya cānagha ||
Vaiśampāyana said: “O lord, you should tell us of the greatness of devoted wives. O sinless one, having restrained the whole host of the senses and having brought the mind under control—(tell us) the majesty of those women whose steadfast discipline and single-hearted devotion are directed toward their husbands as toward a deity.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames pativratā-dharma as an ethical-spiritual discipline grounded in self-restraint: controlling the senses and mind, and directing steadfast devotion toward one’s husband as a sacred duty.
Vaiśampāyana addresses a listener and introduces a request: to explain the greatness (māhātmya) of devoted wives, emphasizing the inner discipline—restraint of senses and mind—that underlies their celebrated conduct.