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 berkata: dharma seorang laki-laki bergantung pada istrinya. Melalui istrilah terpelihara pelayanan dan pengabdian di rumah, kelangsungan serta perlindungan garis keturunan, dan tertibnya usaha dalam dharma, kāma, dan artha. Kewajiban kepada para leluhur maupun kedudukan benar dirinya sendiri pun bertumpu pada dukungan istri; siapa yang tidak menghormati ketergantungan ini akan jatuh dari kemasyhuran yang cemerlang dan tidak mencapai alam-alam yang luhur.
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.