Shloka 41
ऋतुपर्णस्य विदर्भयात्रा-निश्चयः तथा बाहुकस्य हयपरिक्षा (Ṛtuparṇa’s resolve to go to Vidarbha and Bāhuka’s examination of horses)
भर्तव्या रक्षणीया च पत्नी पत्या हि सर्वदा । तन्नष्टमुभयं कस्माद् धर्मज्ञस्य सतस्तव,'प्राणनाथ! पतिको उचित है कि वह सदा अपनी पत्नीका भरण-पोषण एवं संरक्षण करे। आप धर्मज्ञ और साधु पुरुष हैं, आपके ये दोनों कर्तव्य सहसा नष्ट कैसे हो गये?
bhartavyā rakṣaṇīyā ca patnī patyā hi sarvadā | tan-naṣṭam ubhayaṁ kasmād dharmajñasya sataḥ tava ||
Ang asawa, tunay nga, ay dapat laging tustusan at ipagtanggol ng kanyang kabiyak. Kung gayon, bakit biglang nagkulang sa iyo ang dalawang tungkuling ito—gayong ikaw ay kilala bilang matuwid at mabuting tao, O panginoon ng aking buhay?
युदेव उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse asserts a key householder (gṛhastha) obligation: a husband must consistently provide for and protect his wife. Neglect of these two duties is presented as a moral failure, especially shocking when attributed to someone reputed to be dharma-knowing and virtuous.
The speaker confronts her husband with an ethical appeal: since he is regarded as righteous, she questions how his fundamental responsibilities—maintenance and protection of his wife—have come to be abandoned or rendered ineffective in the present situation.