Canto 2 -
Ayodhyā-kāṇḍa
Chapter 118: Conversation Between Sītā and Anasūyā
Text 2.118.4
किंपुनर्यो गुणश्लाघ्यः सानुक्रोशो जितेन्द्रियः।
स्थिरानुरागो धर्मात्मा मातृवत्पितृवत्प्रियः॥
kiṁ punar yo guṇa-ślāghyaḥ sānukrośo jitendriyaḥ
sthirānurāgo dharmātmā mātṛvat pitṛvat priyaḥ
kim punaḥ = what to speak of; yaḥ = a husband; guṇa-ślāghyaḥ = who is praiseworthy of His good qualities; sa-anukrośaḥ = compassionate; jita-indriyaḥ = sense controlled; sthira-anurāgaḥ = steadily affectionate; dharma-ātmā = dhārmika; mātṛvat pitṛvat = like one’s [dhārmika] mother and father; priyaḥ = and dear.
What to speak of a husband who is praiseworthy of His good qualities, compassionate, sense controlled, steadily affectionate, dhārmika and dear like one’s [dhārmika] mother and father?1
Mātṛvat (“dear like one’s [dhārmika] mother”) refers to a husband intent on pleasing his wife. Piṭrvat (“dear like one’s [dhārmika] father”) refers to a husband very intent on benefitting his wife.1