नातन्त्री वाद्यते वीणा नाचक्रो वर्तते रथः।
नापतिः सुखमेधेत या स्यादपि शतात्मजा॥
nātantrī vādyate vīṇā nācakro vartate rathaḥ
nāpatiḥ sukham edheta yā syād api śatātmajā
na atantrī = without its strings; vādyate = does not produce sound; vīṇā = a vīṇā; na = not; acakraḥ = without its wheels; vartate = does function; rathaḥ = a chariot; na = not; apatiḥ = a woman without her husband; sukham edheta = is happier; yā syāt = if she; api = even; śata-ātmajā = has a hundred sons.
A vīṇā does not produce sound without its strings. A chariot does not function without its wheels. A woman without her husband is not happier, even if she has a hundred sons.
NOTE. Why do women value begetting many sons in Vedic dharma?
An answer to this question can be found in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 15.20) where we find young Lord Viśvambhara declaring:
gṛhastha haiyā kariba pitā-mātāra sevana
ihāte-i tuṣṭa habena lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa
“Later I shall become a householder and thus serve My parents, for this action will very much satisfy Lord Nārāyaṇa and His wife, the goddess of fortune.”
A son’s primary duty in Vedic dharma is not to serve his wife, but to serve his mother and father within the bounds of dharma. Everything earned by a son automatically belongs to the parents. Therefore, the natural tendency of materialistic women adhering to Vedic dharma is to want many sons.
Yet, Mother Sītā reminds all such women that they should give greater priority to their husbands than their sons, of course, within the boundaries of Vedic dharma.
NOTE. Why do women value begetting many sons in Vedic dharma?
An answer to this question can be found in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 15.20) where we find young Lord Viśvambhara declaring:
gṛhastha haiyā kariba pitā-mātāra sevana
ihāte-i tuṣṭa habena lakṣmī-nārāyaṇa
“Later I shall become a householder and thus serve My parents, for this action will very much satisfy Lord Nārāyaṇa and His wife, the goddess of fortune.”
A son’s primary duty in Vedic dharma is not to serve his wife, but to serve his mother and father within the bounds of dharma. Everything earned by a son automatically belongs to the parents. Therefore, the natural tendency of materialistic women adhering to Vedic dharma is to want many sons.
Yet, Mother Sītā reminds all such women that they should give greater priority to their husbands than their sons, of course, within the boundaries of Vedic dharma.