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 afirma que o dharma de um homem depende de sua esposa: por meio dela se sustentam o serviço e a devida atenção no lar, a continuidade e a proteção da linhagem, e a busca ordenada de dharma, kāma e artha. Até os deveres para com os ancestrais, bem como a própria retidão, repousam no amparo da esposa; quem não honra essa dependência cai da fama luminosa e não alcança os mundos superiores.
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.