Verse 3.55

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

पितृभिर्भ्रातृभिश्चैताः पतिभिर्देवरैस्तथा ।
पूज्या भूषयितव्याश्च बहुकल्याणमीप्सुभिः ॥ ५५ ॥

pitṛbhirbhrātṛbhiścaitāḥ patibhirdevaraistathā |
pūjyā bhūṣayitavyāśca bahukalyāṇamīpsubhiḥ || 55 ||

These shall be honoured and adorned by their fathers and brothers, husbands and brothers-in-law, who are desirous of their own welfare.—(55)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

The bride’s relations are not only to receive presents for her from the bridegroom; they themselves shall make presents to her.

‘Fathers’—through association, the term ‘father’ here includes the grandfather, uncle, etc., also; hence the plural number; or, the plural number may be explained as referring to several individual brides.

Similarly, ‘husbands’ may stand for father-in-law, &c.; or, it may refer to several individual girls.

‘Brothers-in-law’—the husband’s brothers.

‘Shall be honoured’—during rejoicings in connection with the birth of sons, &c., they should be invited, welcomed and received with honour and feasting.

‘Shall be adorned’—should be decked with clothes, ornaments, unguents, and so forth.

The effect of all this is next indicated—‘welfare what is desirable, i.e., being endowed with children, wealth, &c., good health, freedom from troubles, and so forth: Those who are desirous of all this—i.e., of obtaining all this (should do what is said above).

The injunction contained in this verse has been set forth for the purpose of indicating this reward.—(55)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Parāśaramādhava (Ācāra, p. 506), in support of the view that the wife, whether young or old—should always be respected, ‘worshipped’; but it adds that this does not apply to the unchaste wife, for whom one should provide just enough to keep her body and soul together.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

Yājñavalkya (1.82).—‘Women should be honoured with ornaments, clothes and food, by their husbands, brothers, fathers, parental relations, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, brothers-in-law and maternal relations.’

Mahābhārata (Anuśā.) (also 13.46.3).—‘Women should he honoured and fondled by their fathers, brothers, fathers-in-law and brothers-in-law—if these are desirous of their own welfare.’