Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 118, Shloka 9
अनसूयोपदेशः तथा सीताया स्वयंवरकथा
Anasuya’s Counsel and Sita’s Swayamvara Narrative
नवीकृतं तु तत्सर्वं वाक्यैस्ते धर्मचारिणि।पतिशुश्रूषणान्नार्यास्तपो नान्यद्विधीयते।।2.118.9।।
navīkṛtaṁ tu tat sarvaṁ vākyais te dharma-cāriṇi | pati-śuśrūṣaṇān nāryās tapo nānyad vidhīyate || 2.118.9 ||
Oh mujer que caminas en el dharma, tus palabras han renovado para mí toda aquella enseñanza; pues para una esposa no se prescribe otra austeridad que el servicio devoto a su esposo.
My father, on his own accord, bestowed Urmila, my younger sister of chaste and of pleasing appearance as wife to Lakshmana.
FAQs
The verse frames marital dharma as a disciplined vow: a wife’s highest tapas is faithful, conscientious service to her husband.
After hearing Anasūyā’s counsel, Sītā says it has revived earlier teachings from her elders regarding wifely duty.
Devotion and moral clarity—Sītā affirms a single-minded commitment to her chosen dharmic path in marriage.