Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 37: Rāma, Lakṣmaṇa and Sītā Wear Clothes of Bark
Text 2.37.24
आत्मा हि दाराः सर्वेषां दारसङ्ग्रहवर्तिनाम्।
आत्मेयमिति रामस्य पालयिष्यति मेदिनीम्॥
ātmā hi dārāḥ sarveṣāṁ dāra-saṅgrahavartinām
ātmeyam iti rāmasya pālayiṣyati medinīm
ātmā hi = are the souls; dārāḥ = wives; sarveṣām = of all; dāra-saṅgrahavartinām = who accept wives; ātmā = soul; iyam = she; iti = because; rāmasya = is Rāma’s; pālayiṣyati = she will maintain; medinīm = the earth.
Wives are the souls of all who accept wives. Because she is Rāma’s soul, she will maintain the earth.
Wives are the souls of all who accept wives, that is, gṛhasthas, for the Śruti states—ardho vā eṣa ātmano yat patnī: “For one’s wife is half of himself.” (Taittirīya-saṁhitā 6.1.8.5)