Shloka 33
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
तस्मादेकां द्वितीयां वा वामामुद्वाहयेद्बुधः । संतानार्थात्तु कामाच्च बहुदोषाश्रिता च सा
tasmādekāṃ dvitīyāṃ vā vāmāmudvāhayedbudhaḥ | saṃtānārthāttu kāmācca bahudoṣāśritā ca sā
پس دانا مرد کو ایک ہی—یا زیادہ سے زیادہ دوسری—بیوی سے نکاح کرنا چاہیے، خواہ اولاد کی خاطر ہو یا خواہش کے سبب؛ کیونکہ بہت سی بیویاں اختیار کرنا بے شمار عیوب کا باعث ہے۔
Unspecified (narrative/instructional voice within the chapter context)
Concept: Restraint in marital expansion preserves household harmony; multiple marriages invite compounded faults and disorder.
Application: Practice contentment and self-control; prioritize responsibility to spouse and children; avoid decisions driven by unchecked desire that create suffering for many.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A composed teaching scene in a quiet hermitage courtyard: a sage points to a single steady lamp representing one household bond, while multiple flickering lamps in the background cast chaotic shadows, symbolizing the ‘many faults’ of excess. A couple sits respectfully near a sacred fire, suggesting marriage as dharma rather than indulgence.","primary_figures":["A teaching sage (nīti-upadeśaka)","Householder couple","Symbolic lamps (one steady, many flickering)"],"setting":"Hermitage courtyard with kusa grass seats, a small agni-kunda, and a simple shrine; background vignette of a noisy household as cautionary contrast.","lighting_mood":"forest dappled","color_palette":["sage green","smoke gray","amber","earth brown","white jasmine"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: central sage with gold-leaf halo instructing a seated couple; one prominent gold-embellished lamp glowing steadily, with smaller lamps behind casting patterned shadows; rich maroon and green textiles, ornate borders, gem-like highlights on ritual vessels.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: tranquil ashram scene with soft greens and browns; the sage’s gesture and the single steady lamp are focal points; background shows a subtle chaotic vignette with multiple lamps and restless figures, rendered delicately without harshness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: bold outlined sage and couple, stylized lamp flames, symmetrical composition; strong red-yellow-green palette with black contours; background chaos indicated through rhythmic repeated lamp motifs and angular shadow patterns.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: central medallion with a single lamp and a calm couple, surrounded by lotus borders; outer ring shows many small lamps and tangled floral vines to symbolize ‘bahu-doṣa’; deep indigo and gold detailing with auspicious Vaishnava symbols."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Desh","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"authoritative","sound_elements":["forest birds","soft mridangam","temple bell","crackling fire"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तस्मादेकाम् = तस्मात् + एकाम्; उद्वाहयेद्बुधः = उद्वाहयेत् + बुधः; संतानार्थात्तु = संतानार्थात् + तु; कामाच्च = कामात् + च; बहुदोषाश्रिता (समास) = बहु + दोष + आश्रिता
FAQs
It advises restraint: marry one wife, or at most a second, and warns that multiplying wives leads to many problems and moral/social faults.
Yes, it permits a second wife in limited terms, framing it as an exception (“one, or a second”), not an open endorsement of multiple wives.
The lesson is moderation and responsibility in household life—prioritizing stability, progeny, and self-control over unchecked desire.