Shloka 473

Adhyāya 90: Babhruvāhana’s Reception and the Commencement of Yudhiṣṭhira’s Aśvamedha

Devanagari script

दारेष्वधीनो धर्मश्न॒ पितृणामात्मनस्तथा | “वह उज्ज्वल कीर्तिसे भ्रष्ट हो जाता है और उसे उत्तम लोकोंकी प्राप्ति नहीं होती। धर्म

Transliteration

dāreṣv adhīno dharmaś ca pitṝṇām ātmanaḥ tathā |

Translation

ନକୁଳ କହିଲେ—ପୁରୁଷର ଧର୍ମ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ଉପରେ ନିର୍ଭର କରେ। ଗୃହରେ ସେବା-ଶୁଶ୍ରୂଷା, ବଂଶପରମ୍ପରାର ଅବିରତତା ଓ ରକ୍ଷା, ଏବଂ ଧର୍ମ-କାମ-ଅର୍ଥ ସମ୍ବନ୍ଧୀୟ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟର ସୁସଂଗଠିତ ପାଳନ—ଏ ସବୁ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀର ଆଶ୍ରୟରେ ରହେ। ପିତୃକର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ ଓ ନିଜ ଧର୍ମ ମଧ୍ୟ ପତ୍ନୀର ସହାୟତାରେ ଦୃଢ଼ ହୁଏ। ଯେ ଏହି ନିର୍ଭରତାକୁ ସମ୍ମାନ ନକରେ, ସେ ଉଜ୍ଜ୍ୱଳ କୀର୍ତ୍ତିରୁ ଭ୍ରଷ୍ଟ ହୁଏ ଓ ଉତ୍ତମ ଲୋକ ପାଉନାହିଁ।

Word by Word

• दारेषु: in/under (one's) wives; with regard to wives
• दारेषु: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: दार (पत्नी/भार्या)
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Plural

• अधीनः: dependent; under the control (of)
• अधीनः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधीन
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• धर्मश्च: and dharma (righteous duty)
• धर्मश्च: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पितृणाम्: of the ancestors (manes)
• पितृणाम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• आत्मनः: of oneself
• आत्मनः: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Singular

• तथा: likewise; so too
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

Speaker

नकुल उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Nakula
• wife (dārāḥ)
• pitṛs (ancestors)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

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.

What is happening in the narrative?

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.