Shloka 25
Veṇu-gīta-āhvāna and the Gopīs’ Appeal: The Opening of Rāsa-līlā
दु:शीलो दुर्भगो वृद्धो जडो रोग्यधनोऽपि वा । पति: स्त्रीभिर्न हातव्यो लोकेप्सुभिरपातकी ॥ २५ ॥
duḥśīlo durbhago vṛddho jaḍo rogy adhano ’pi vā patiḥ strībhir na hātavyo lokepsubhir apātakī
สตรีผู้ปรารถนาคติอันดีในภพหน้า ไม่พึงทอดทิ้งสามีที่มิได้ตกจากธรรม แม้เขาจะหยาบคาย อาภัพ ชรา ทึบเขลา เจ็บป่วย หรือยากจนก็ตาม
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī quotes a similar statement from smṛti-śāstra : patiṁ tv apatitaṁ bhajet. “One should serve a master who is not fallen.” Sometimes the foolish argument is given that even if a husband falls down from spiritual principles, his wife should continue to follow him since he is her “ guru. ” In fact, since Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be subordinated to any other religious principle, a guru who engages his follower in materialistic, sinful activities loses his status as a guru. Śrīla Prabhupāda stated that the system of monarchy collapsed in Europe because the monarchs abused and exploited their position. Similarly, in the Western world men have abused and exploited women, and now there is a popular movement in which women reject the authority of their husbands. Ideally, men should be staunch in spiritual life and give pure, sincere guidance to the women under their care.
FAQs
In this verse, Kṛṣṇa states that a woman seeking good standing should not abandon her husband even if he lacks good qualities—provided he is not sinful (apātakī).
Kṛṣṇa speaks to the gopīs to uphold social dharma and to test and reveal the purity and single-mindedness of their devotion before the rāsa-līlā unfolds.
It emphasizes commitment and responsibility in relationships while also implying a moral boundary—one need not support genuinely sinful or abusive conduct.