Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 24, Shloka 20
कौशल्यारामसंवादः
Kausalya–Rama Dialogue on Exile-Dharma
तां तथा रुदतीं रामो रुदन्वचनमब्रवीत्।।2.24.20।।जीवन्त्या हि स्त्रिया भर्ता दैवतं प्रभुरेव च
tāṃ tathā rudatīṃ rāmo rudan vacanam abravīt || 2.24.20 || jīvantyā hi striyā bhartā daivataṃ prabhur eva ca |
તેને આમ રડતી જોઈ, રામ પણ આંસુભર્યા નેત્રે રડતાં રડતાં બોલ્યા: “સ્ત્રી જીવતી હોય ત્યાં સુધી તેનો પતિ જ તેનું દૈવત અને સાચો સ્વામી છે.”
Adding his tears to his mother's who was wailing Rama said As long as a woman lives, her husband is her god and also her lord (master).
FAQs
The verse states a normative household ethic of the epic: marital duty and social order are upheld by honoring one’s spouse (here, the husband) as the primary authority in a woman’s worldly life.
Kauśalyā begs to accompany Rāma; Rāma responds while grieving, redirecting her toward her duty to Daśaratha in the palace.
Rāma’s commitment to maryādā (propriety and role-based duty) is emphasized, even amid personal sorrow.