Adi Parva 104.18
Rahular Itihasa / M. N. Dutt · Adi Parva Chapter 104 · Verse 18
Sanskrit Original
दीर्घतमा उवाच यथेष्टं कुरु विप्रेन्द्र न भरेयं अद्यप्रभृति मर्यादा मया लोके प्रतिष्ठिता॥ एक एव पतिर्नार्या यावजीवं परायणम्। मृते जीवति वा तस्मिन्नापरं प्राप्नुयान्नरम्॥ अभिगम्य परं नारी पतिष्यति न संशयः। आपतीनां तु नारीणामद्यप्रभृति पातकम्॥ यद्यस्ति चेद्धनं सर्वे वृथाभोगा भवन्तु ताः। अकीर्तिः परिवादाश्च नित्यं तासां भवन्तु
Dirghatamas said : From this day I make this rule among men that every woman shall stick to one husband only all through her life. Whether the husband is dead, or whether he is alive, she must not have connection with another man. She, who will have it, will be considered as fallen. A woman without a husband will always be liable to be sinful. Even if she is wealthy, she will not be able to enjoy it truly. Calumny and evil report will always follow her.