Ramayana — Ayodhya Kanda, Sarga 117, Shloka 24
अत्र्याश्रमगमनम् तथा अनसूयोपदेशः
Arrival at Atri’s Hermitage and Anasuya’s Counsel
नातो विशिष्टं पश्यामि बान्धवं विमृशन्त्यहम्।सर्वत्र योग्यं वैदेहि तपः कृतमिवाव्ययम्।।।।
nāto viśiṣṭaṃ paśyāmi bāndhavaṃ vimṛśanty aham |
sarvatra yogyaṃ vaidehi tapaḥ kṛtam ivāvyayam ||
“O Vaidehī, pagninilay-nilayan ko, wala akong nakikitang kamag-anak na hihigit sa asawa—maaasahan sa lahat ng dako, na wari’y di-nasisirang bunga ng dating naisagawang tapas.”
O Sita, on reflection I know of none who is a better friend than the husband. He, like an imperishable penance, once acquired is never lost.
FAQs
Dharma is portrayed as a durable moral bond: marital duty is likened to tapas whose merit is enduring and not easily ‘lost’.
Anasūyā philosophically strengthens Sītā’s resolve by describing the husband as the most dependable bond in life’s changing conditions.
Dhṛti (steadfast endurance) supported by reflective discernment (vimarśa).