Shloka 473
Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha
दारेष्वधीनो धर्मश्न॒ पितृणामात्मनस्तथा | “वह उज्ज्वल कीर्तिसे भ्रष्ट हो जाता है और उसे उत्तम लोकोंकी प्राप्ति नहीं होती। धर्म
dāreṣv adhīno dharmaś ca pitṝṇām ātmanaḥ tathā |
Nakula afirma que el dharma del hombre depende de su esposa: por ella se sostienen el servicio y la debida atención en el hogar, la continuidad y protección del linaje, y la búsqueda ordenada del dharma, el kāma y el artha. Incluso los deberes hacia los antepasados, así como la propia rectitud, descansan en el apoyo de la esposa; quien no honra esta dependencia cae de la fama luminosa y no alcanza los mundos superiores.
नकुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
Householder dharma is portrayed as inseparable from the wife’s role: family continuity, proper service within the home, and even obligations to ancestors are said to depend on her support; neglecting this leads to loss of reputation and spiritual merit.
Nakula is speaking in a didactic context, emphasizing the ethical and religious importance of the wife within household life and framing her as central to sustaining dharma and ancestral obligations.