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 |
दारेष्वधीनो धर्मश्च पितॄणामात्मनस्तथा । यः एतदनादृत्य वर्तते स उज्ज्वलां कीर्तिं परिभ्रश्यते, न चोत्तमान् लोकान् अवाप्नोति । धर्मकामार्थसम्बद्धाः क्रियाः, सेवा-शुश्रूषा, वंशपरम्परायाश्च रक्षणं—एतानि सर्वाणि स्त्रियाः अधीनानि । पितृधर्मोऽपि स्वधर्मश्च भार्याश्रय एव ॥
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.