Shloka 15
Agni’s Withdrawal to the Forest and Identification with Āṅgirasa (अग्न्याङ्गिरस-इतिहासः)
अपने हृदयकी समस्त भावनाएँ, सम्पूर्ण प्रेम पतिके चरणोंमें चढ़ाकर वह अनन्यभावसे उन्हींकी सेवामें लगी रहती थी। सदाचारका पालन करती, बाहर-भीतरसे शुद्ध--पवित्र रहती, घरके काम-काजको कुशलतापूर्वक करती और कुटुम्बके सभी लोगोंका हित चाहती थी।। भर्तुश्नापि हितं यत् तत् सततं सानुवर्तते । देवतातिथि भत्यानां श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोस्तथा
bhartuś cāpi hitaṃ yat tat satataṃ sānuvarṭate | devatātithi-bhṛtyānāṃ śvaśrū-śvaśurayos tathā ||
Mārkaṇḍeya said: She constantly followed whatever was beneficial to her husband. Likewise, she sought the welfare of the household’s sacred obligations—toward the gods, guests, and servants—and also toward her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
मार्कण्डेय उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches gṛhastha-dharma: a virtuous person safeguards the household’s moral order by consistently acting for the husband’s welfare and by honoring duties to gods (worship), guests (hospitality), dependents/servants (care), and elders (in-laws).
Mārkaṇḍeya is describing the exemplary conduct of a devoted wife within the household, emphasizing her steady alignment with what benefits her husband and her conscientious care for all key relationships and obligations in the family setting.