Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 39: Kausalyā Instructs Sītā
Text 2.39.24

साध्वीनां हि स्थितानां तु शीले सत्ये श्रुते शमे।
स्त्रीणां पवित्रं परमं पतिरेको विशिष्यते॥

sādhvīnāṁ hi sthitānāṁ tu śīle satye śrute śame
strīṇāṁ pavitraṁ paramaṁ patir eko viśiṣyate

sādhvīnām hi = for chaste; sthitānām tu = situated; śīle = in behavior appropriate to their [noble] families; satye = in truthfulness; śrute = in the instructions of superior authorities; śame = and in peace of mind; strīṇām = women; pavitram = means for their purification; paramam = the supreme; patiḥ = is their husband; ekaḥ = alone; viśiṣyate = he is most important [to them].

For chaste women situated in behavior appropriate to their [noble] families, in truthfulness, in the instructions of superior authorities and in peace of mind, the supreme means for their purification is their husband alone. He is most important [to them].

To further provide corroboration for her argument about chastity, Queen Kausalyā now describes the nature of chaste women after having described the nature of unchaste women [in the previous verses].