Shloka 39
धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्
Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct
ग्राम्यधर्म न सेवेत स्वच्छन्देनार्थकोविद: । ऋतुकाले तु धर्मात्मा पत्नीमुपशयेत् सदा
grāmyadharmaṁ na seveta svacchandenārthakovidaḥ | ṛtukāle tu dharmātmā patnīm upaśayeta sadā ||
हित-अहित का विवेक रखने वाला पुरुष स्वेच्छा से ग्राम्यधर्म (कामाचार) का सेवन न करे। धर्मात्मा होकर वह सदा केवल ऋतुकाल में ही पत्नी के समीप शयन करे—यही उसकी मर्यादा हो।
श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches disciplined household sexuality: avoid pleasure-driven, self-willed indulgence, and approach one’s wife in accordance with dharma—traditionally, chiefly during her ṛtukāla (fertile period), emphasizing restraint and purposeful conduct.
Śrī Maheśvara is giving a normative instruction on gṛhastha-dharma (householder ethics), defining ‘grāmyadharma’ as worldly sexual indulgence and prescribing regulated conjugal conduct aligned with righteousness and prudence.