Adhyaya 209: Description of the Greatness of the Pativratā (Marital Fidelity and Ethical Devotion)

Verse 1

अथ पतिव्रतामाहात्म्यवर्णनम् ॥ नारद उवाच ॥ कर्मणा केन राजेन्द्र तपसा वा तपोधनाः ॥ उत्तमां च गतिं यान्ति कृष्णवासः प्रशंस मे ॥

Then begins the account of the greatness of the pativratā, devoted wives. Nārada said: “O king, by what action or by what austerity (tapas) do ascetics attain the highest state? O Kṛṣṇavāsa, explain and praise this for me.”

Verse 2

एवमुक्तस्तु धर्मात्मा नारदेनाब्रवीत्तदा ॥ यम उवाच ॥ न तस्य नियमो विप्र तपो नैव च सुव्रत ॥

Thus addressed, the righteous one replied to Nārada then. Yama said: “For that attainment, O brāhmaṇa, there is no observance (niyama), nor any austerity (tapas) either, O man of good vows.”

Verse 3

उपवासो न दानं वा न देवो वा महामुने ॥ यादृशी तु भवेद्विप्र शृणु तत्त्वं समासतः ॥

It is neither fasting, nor almsgiving, nor even worship of a deity, O great sage. Rather, O brāhmaṇa, hear in brief the true principle—what manner of conduct this is.

Verse 4

प्रसुप्ते या प्रस्वपिति जागर्ति विबुधे स्वयम् ॥ भुङ्क्ते तु भोजिते विप्र सा मृत्युम् जयति ध्रुवम् ॥

She who sleeps when (her husband) has fallen asleep, who wakes when he has awakened, and who eats when he has been fed—O brāhmaṇa—surely conquers death.

Verse 5

मौने मौना भवेद्या तु स्थिते तिष्ठति या स्वयम् ॥ सा मृत्युम् जायते विप्र नान्यत्पश्यामि किञ्चन ॥

She who is silent when he is silent, and who stands when he stands—O brāhmaṇa—conquers death; I see nothing else as decisive.

Verse 6

एकदृष्टिरेकमना भर्त्तुर्वचनकारिणी ॥ तस्या बिभीमहे सर्वे ये तथान्ये तपोधन ॥

Single in gaze, single in mind, carrying out her husband’s word—before such a woman we all stand in awe, as do other ascetics as well, O sage rich in austerity.

Verse 7

देवानामपि सा साध्वी पूज्या परमशोभना ॥ भर्त्रा चाभिहिता यापि न प्रत्याख्यायिनी भवेत् ॥

That virtuous woman is worthy of honor even among the devas, supremely radiant; and even when addressed by her husband, she should not be one who rejects his words.

Verse 8

वर्त्तमानापि विप्रेन्द्र प्रत्याख्यातापि वा सदा ॥ न दैवतं सम्प्रयाति पत्युर्न्यं कदाचन ॥

O best of brahmins, even if she lives apart (from him), or even if she is continually rejected, she never, at any time, turns to any other “divinity” than her husband.

Verse 9

सा न मृत्युमुखं याति एवं या स्त्री पतिव्रता ॥ एवं या तु भवेद्नित्यं भर्त्तुः प्रियहिते रता ॥

Such a woman does not go to the “mouth of death”—this is the case for a woman devoted to her husband. Likewise, she who is always engaged in what is dear and beneficial to her husband is described thus.

Verse 10

एष माता पिता बन्धुरेष मे दैवतं परम् ॥ एवं शुश्रूषते या तु सा मां विजयते सदा ॥

“He is to me mother, father, and kinsman; he is my highest divine refuge.” The woman who serves her husband in this manner—she surpasses/conquers me always.

Verse 11

पतिव्रता तु या साध्वी तस्यां चाहं कृताञ्जलिः ॥ भर्तारमनुध्यायन्ती भर्तारमनुगच्छती ॥

But that virtuous woman who is devoted to her husband—to her too I offer reverence with joined palms. Meditating upon her husband, she follows after her husband.

Verse 12

भर्तारमनुशोचन्ती मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ गीतवादित्रनृत्यानि प्रेक्षणीयान्यनेकशः ॥

Lamenting (or deeply yearning for) her husband, she does not see the “gate of death”. Songs, musical instruments, and dances—many kinds of spectacles to be watched—

Verse 13

न शृणोति न पश्येद्या मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ स्नान्ती च तिष्ठती वापि कुर्वन्ती वा प्रसाधनम् ॥

She who neither listens nor looks upon such entertainments—she does not behold the gate of death. Whether bathing, or standing engaged, or even adorning herself—

Verse 14

नान्यं या मनसा पश्येन्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ देवतार्चयन्तं वा भुज्यमानमपि द्विज ॥

She who, in her mind, does not look toward another man—she does not behold the gate of death. Whether her husband is worshipping the deities or even eating, O twice-born—

Verse 15

पतिं न त्यजते चित्तान्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ भानौ चानुदिते वापि उत्थाय च तपोधन ॥

She does not forsake her husband in her heart; she does not behold the gate of death. And even when the sun has not yet risen, rising early, O treasure of austerity—

Verse 16

गृहं मार्जयते नित्यं मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ चक्षुर्देहश्च भावश्च यस्या नित्यं सुसंवृतम् ॥

She regularly cleans the house; she does not behold the gate of death. Her eyes, her body, and her disposition are always well restrained and well guarded.

Verse 17

शौचाचारसमायुक्ता सापि मृत्युम् न पश्यति ॥ भर्तुर्मुखं प्रपश्येद्या भर्त्तुश्चित्तानुसारिणी ॥

Endowed with purity and proper conduct, she too does not behold death. She who looks upon her husband’s face and follows the intention of his heart—

Verse 18

वर्तते च हिते भर्त्तुर्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति ॥ एवं कीर्त्तिमतां लोके दृश्यन्ते दिवि देवताः ॥

When she abides in what is beneficial to her husband, she does not behold the “doorway of death.” Thus, in the world, those endowed with renown are seen—like the deities in heaven.

Verse 19

मया तस्मात्तु विप्रर्षे यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम् ॥ गुह्यमेतत्ततो दृष्ट्वा पूजयामि पतिव्रताः ॥

Therefore, O brahmin-seer, I have related it as it occurred and as it was heard. Having recognized this as a secret teaching, I therefore honor the devoted wives (pativratā).

Verse 20

अनुवेष्टनभावेन भर्त्तारमनुगच्छति ॥ सा तु मृत्युमुखद्वारं न गच्छेद्ब्रह्मसम्भव ॥

With an attitude of close attendance and steadfast accompaniment, she follows her husband. She, however, does not go to the gate that is the mouth of death, O Brahmā-born one.

Verse 21

मानुषाणां च भार्या वै तत्र देशे तु दृश्यते ॥ कथितैव पुरा विप्र आदित्येन पतिव्रता ॥

And indeed, in that region a wife among humans is seen. Formerly, O brahmin, the devoted wife (pativratā) was spoken of by Āditya, the Sun.