भीष्म उवाच अथ वृक्षस्य शाखायां विहङ्गः ससुहज्जनः। दीर्घकालोषितो राजंस्तत्र चित्रतनूरुहः॥
In one of the branches of that tree, a pigeon having beautiful feather, o king, lived for many years with his family.
तस्य कल्पगता भार्या चरितुं नाभ्यवर्तत। प्राप्तां च रजनीं दृष्ट्वा स पक्षी पर्यतप्यत॥
That morning his wife had gone out in quest of food but had not yet come back. Seeing the approach of night and his wife still not returning, the bird began be bewail, saying
वातवर्ष महच्चासीन्न चागच्छति मे प्रिया। किं नु तत् कारणं येन साद्यापि न निवर्तते॥
O, what a great storm and a terrible shower took place to-day! Alas, you have come not come back yet, O dear wife! Woe is on me, what must be the cause of her not returning yet.
अपि स्वस्ति भवेत् तस्याः प्रियाया मम कानने। तया विरहितं हीदं शून्यमद्य गृहं मम॥
In cverything right with that dear wife of mine in the forest? Separated from her, this my home appears to me void.
पुत्रपौत्रवधूभृत्यैराकीर्णमपि सर्वतः। भार्याहीनं गृहस्थस्य शून्यमेव गृहं भवेत्॥
A house-holder's home, even if filled with sons, grandsons daughters-in-law and servants, is regarded empty if there is no housewife.
न गृहं गृहमित्याहुहिणी गृहमुच्यते। गृहं तु गृहिणीहीनमरण्यसदृशं मतम्॥
One's house is not his home; one's wife only is his home. a house without the wife is desolate like a forest.
यदि सा रक्तनेत्रान्ता चित्राङ्गी मधुरस्वरा। अद्य नायाति मे कान्ता न कार्यं जीवितेन मे॥
If that dear wife of mine, having red eyes, variegated plumes, and sweet voice, does not return to-day, my life itself will have no value.
न भुक्के मय्यभुक्ते या नास्नाते स्नाति सुव्रता। नातिष्ठत्युपतिष्ठेत शेते च शयिते मयि॥
Practising most excellent vows, she never eats before I eat, and never bathes before I bathe. She never sits before I sit down, and never lies before I lie down.
हृष्टे भवति सा हृष्टा दुःखिते मयि दुःखिता। प्रोषिते दीनवदना क्रुद्धे च प्रियवादिनी॥
She rejoices when I rejoice, and becomes sorry when I am sorry. She is cheerless when I am away, and she is all sweetness when I am angry.
पतिव्रता पतिगतिः पतिप्रियहिते रता। यस्य स्यात् तादृशी भार्या धन्यः स पुरुषो भुवि।।१०।
Always devoted to her husband and ever relying upon him, she always did what was agreeable to and beneficial for her lord. Indeed, such a person deserves praise on Earth who has such a wife.
सा हि श्रान्तं क्षुधार्तं च जानीते मां तपस्विनी। अनुरक्ता स्थिरा चैव भक्ता स्निग्धा यशस्विनी॥
That amiable creature knows that I am worn out and hungry. Devoted to me and firm in her love, my genial wife is devout in her adoration to me.
वृक्षमूलेऽपि दयिता यस्य तिष्ठति तद् गृहम्। प्रासादोऽपि तया हीनः कान्तार इति निश्चितम्॥
Even the food of a tree is one's home, if he lived there with his wife as a companion. Without one's wife, even a palace is a desolate forest.
धर्मार्थकामकालेषु भार्या पुंसः सहायिनी। विदेशगमने चास्य सैव विश्वासकारिका॥
One's wife is his companion in all his acts of virtue, profit and desire. When one starts for a strange country his wife is his trusted companion.
भार्या हि परमो ह्यर्थः पुरुषस्येह पठ्यते। असहायस्य लोकेऽस्मिल्लोकयात्रासहायिनी॥
It is said that the wife is the richest treasure of her husband. In this world the wife is the only companion of her husband in all the worldly affairs.
तथा रोगाभिभूतस्य नित्यं कृच्छ्रगतस्य च। नास्ति भार्यासमं किंचिन्नरस्यार्तस्य भेषजम्॥
One, who is suffered from disease and surrounded with many troubles, his wife is the best of panaceas and good medicine in sickness of that person.
नास्ति भार्यासमो बन्धुर्नास्ति भार्यासमा गतिः। नास्ति भार्यासमो लोके सहायो धर्मसंग्रह॥
There is no friend like wife. There is no refuge better than the wife. There is no better associate in the world than the wife in acts undertaken for the acquisition of religious merit.
यस्य भार्या गृहे नास्ति साध्वी च प्रियवादिनी। अरण्यं तेन गन्तव्यं यथारण्यं तथा गृहम्॥
He who has not in his house a wife, chaste and of sweet speech, should go to the forest. For such a one there is no difference between a home and a forest.