FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 7.11.25

 स्त्रीणां च पतिदेवानां तच्छुश्रूषानुकूलता । तद्बन्धुष्वनुवृत्तिश्च नित्यं तद्‌व्रतधारणम् ॥ २५ ॥
strīṇāṁ ca pati-devānāṁ
[streenaam cha pati-devaanaam]
tac-chuśrūṣānukūlatā
[tach-chushrooshaanukoolataa]
tad-bandhuṣv anuvṛttiś ca
[tad-bandhushv anuvrittish cha]
nityaṁ tad-vrata-dhāraṇam
[nityam tad-vrata-dhaaranam]
strīṇām — of women ca — also pati-devānām — who have accepted their husbands as worshipable tat-śuśrūṣā — readiness to render service to her husband anukūlatā — being favorably disposed towards her husband tat-bandhuṣu — unto the friends and relatives of the husband anuvṛttiḥ — being similarly disposed (to treat them well for the satisfaction of the husband) ca — and nityam — regularly tat-vrata-dhāraṇam — accepting the vows of the husband or acting exactly as the husband acts.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
strīṇāṁ ca pati-devānāṁ
strīṇām
of women
ca
also
pati-devānām
who have accepted their husbands as worshipable
tac-chuśrūṣānukūlatā
tat-śuśrūṣā
readiness to render service to her husband
anukūlatā
being favorably disposed towards her husband
tad-bandhuṣv anuvṛttiś ca
tat-bandhuṣu
unto the friends and relatives of the husband
anuvṛttiḥ
being similarly disposed (to treat them well for the satisfaction of the husband)
ca
and
nityaṁ tad-vrata-dhāraṇam
nityam
regularly
tat-vrata-dhāraṇam
accepting the vows of the husband or acting exactly as the husband acts.
To render service to the husband, to be always favorably disposed toward the husband, to be equally well disposed toward the husband’s relatives and friends, and to follow the vows of the husband — these are the four principles to be followed by women described as chaste.

It is very important for peaceful householder life that a woman follow the vow of her husband. Any disagreement with the husband’s vow will disrupt family life. In this regard, Cāṇakya Paṇḍita gives a very valuable instruction: dampatyoḥ kalaho nāsti tatra śrīḥ svayam āgatāḥ. When there are no fights between husband and wife, the goddess of fortune automatically comes to the home. A woman’s education should be conducted along the lines indicated in this verse. The basic principle for a chaste woman is to be always favorably disposed toward her husband. In Bhagavad-gītā (1.40) it is said, strīṣu duṣṭāsu vārṣṇeya jāyate varṇa-saṅkaraḥ: if the women are polluted, there will be varṇa-saṅkara population. In modern terms, the varṇa-saṅkara are the hippies, who do not follow any regulative injunctions. Another explanation is that when the population is varṇa-saṅkara, no one can know who is on what platform. The varṇāśrama system scientifically divides society into four varṇas and four āśramas, but in varṇa-saṅkara society there are no such distinctions, and no one can know who is who. In such a society, no one can distinguish between a brāhmaṇa, a kṣatriya, a vaiśya and a śūdra. For peace and happiness in the material world, the varṇāśrama institution must be introduced. The symptoms of one’s activities must be defined, and one must be educated accordingly. Then spiritual advancement will automatically be possible.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
To render service to the husband, to be always favorably disposed toward the husband, to be equally well disposed toward the husband's relatives and friends, and to follow the vows of the husband—these are the four principles to be followed by women who worship the husband. The characteristics of chaste women are described in five verses. The husband should be worshipped (pati-devānām).
A chaste woman serves the husband, is favorably disposed, well-disposed toward his kin and friends, and follows his vows. Cāṇakya: where there's no fight between husband and wife, Lakṣmī comes. Household harmony is itself spiritual practice.
Reflection Questions
  • Where in your household has unresolved disagreement quietly chased away fortune?
  • What act of repair could re-invite peace this week?
📝 My note

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