Shloka 31
चित्रसेन-समागमः / The Engagement with Citrasena and the Gandharvas
सुमनोवर्णकापेता भवामि व्रतचारिणी । “पतिदेवके बिना किसी भी स्थानमें अकेली रहना मुझे बिलकुल पसंद नहीं है। मेरे स्वामी जब कभी कुटुम्बके कार्यसे कभी परदेश चले जाते हैं, उन दिनों मैं फ़ूलोंका शृंगार नहीं धारण करती, अंगराग नहीं लगाती और निरन्तर ब्रह्मचर्यव्रतका पालन करती हूँ || ३० न्् यच्च भर्ता न पिबति यच्च भर्ता न सेवते
sumanovarṇakāpetā bhavāmi vratacāriṇī | yac ca bhartā na pibati yac ca bhartā na sevate |
Kapag wala ang aking asawa, iniiwan ko ang lahat ng palamuti at nagiging mahigpit na tagapag-ingat ng panata. Hindi ako nagsusuot ng palamuting bulaklak, hindi ako nagpapahid ng pabango o langis, at pinananatili ko ang pagpipigil (brahmacarya). Bukod dito, anumang hindi iniinom ng aking asawa at anumang hindi niya tinatangkilik, iyon din ay iniiwasan ko.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents pativratā-dharma as voluntary discipline: in the husband’s absence the wife adopts austerity, avoids adornment and sensual enjoyments, and aligns her conduct with what her husband himself refrains from—framing fidelity as ethical self-governance rather than mere social display.
Vaiśampāyana reports a woman’s statement of her personal observances: she describes how she lives when her husband is away—setting aside ornaments, maintaining continence, and abstaining from what her husband does not consume—thereby characterizing her conduct through vows and restraint.