Shloka 31
Honoring the Mother (Mātṛpūjanam): Consent, Equity, and Dana to Restore Household Dharma
ज्येष्ठायै द्विगुणं तस्या दद्यच्चैवान्यथा ऋणी । अनुज्ञाप्य यदा भर्ता ज्येष्ठामन्यां समुद्वहेत् ॥ ३१ ॥
jyeṣṭhāyai dviguṇaṃ tasyā dadyaccaivānyathā ṛṇī | anujñāpya yadā bhartā jyeṣṭhāmanyāṃ samudvahet || 31 ||
He should give the elder wife twice the share given to the other; otherwise he becomes a debtor in dharma. When, after obtaining her consent, the husband marries another woman besides the elder wife, this rule should be observed.
Narada (as narrator of dharma injunctions within the Uttara-Bhaga context)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: none
FAQs
It frames household conduct as a dharmic obligation: fairness to the elder wife and consent-based action reduce adharma and the inner “debt” (ṛṇa) created by unjust behavior.
While not directly about bhakti practice, it supports bhakti through ethical gṛhastha living—maintaining justice, consent, and responsibility, which are foundational virtues for steady worship and vrata observance.
This is primarily dharma-śāstra style guidance rather than a Vedāṅga technical lesson; the practical takeaway is normative rule-making (nīti) about consent (anujñā) and obligation (ṛṇa) in marriage customs.