मात्रा पित्रा च विहितां सदा गार्हस्थ्यभागिनीम् ॥
वरयित्वा यथान्यायं मन्त्रवत् परिणीय च ॥
कुलीनां शीलसंपन्नाम् अपत्यजननीं मम ॥
त्वाम् अहं जीवितस्यार्थे साध्वीम् अनपकारिणीम् ॥
परित्यक्तुं न शक्ष्यामि भार्यां नित्यम् अनुव्रताम् ॥
mātrā pitrā ca vihitāṃ sadā gārhasthyabhāginīm ||
varayitvā yathānyāyaṃ mantravat pariṇīya ca ||
kulīnāṃ śīlasaṃpannām apatyajananīṃ mama ||
tvām ahaṃ jīvitasyārthe sādhvīm anapakāriṇīm ||
parityaktuṃ na śakṣyāmi bhāryāṃ nityam anuvratām ||
You who were appointed by my parents, ever my partner in household life, whom I courted according to law and married with sacred mantras, well-born, of good character, the mother of my children -- you, virtuous, blameless, ever-faithful wife, I shall not be able to abandon for the sake of my own life.
501b804ef893 · published Jul 12, 2026, 5:09:57 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
Here the brahmin shows the sanctity of a marriage consecrated by law. Telling is his enumeration: courtship "according to law," a wedding "with mantras," good birth and good character -- for him marriage is not a transaction but a sacrament, sealed by rite and dharma. Here it is shown that wedlock is a sacred covenant, not a temporary convenience: a faithful and blameless wife cannot be abandoned in the hour of danger. Telling too is his emphasis on her blamelessness: to betray the innocent to save oneself would be a grave sin indeed. Thus the scripture shows the indissolubility of a consecrated union: those whom the gods and the rite have joined are not parted by cowardice in the face of danger.