subhashitawisdommarriageideal-wife

Karyeshu Mantri (The Six Virtues of an Ideal Wife)

कार्येषु मन्त्री करणेषु दासी in English · English

🕉️ hindu·📿 3× repetitions·🕐 During reflections on family life, marriage ceremonies, or grihastha teachings·📜 Subhashita

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

This well-loved subhashita beautifully describes the six virtues of an ideal life-partner: wise as a minister in counsel, diligent as a helper in duties, caring as a mother in nourishment, loving as Rambha in intimacy, supportive of dharma, and patient as the Earth in forgiveness. United, these six qualities make the wife the true upholder of the family's honour and righteousness. The verse is widely quoted in discussions of grihastha (householder) ideals.

Origin & Story

Subhashita · Unknown (classical Sanskrit niti tradition) · Classical Sanskrit literature

Subhashitas are polished epigrams of worldly and ethical wisdom passed down through Sanskrit literature and gathered in anthologies across the centuries. This verse, much beloved in discussions of the householder's life, distils into a single elegant stanza the six virtues — counsel, diligence, nurture, love, righteousness and forbearance — that together make a partner the strength and honour of a family.

✦ As told in scripture

Elders quote this verse at weddings to remind couples that a home flourishes not through any single virtue but through the harmony of many; it is said that where these qualities are nurtured mutually, the household becomes a place of lasting peace and prosperity.

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The Mantra

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kāryeṣu mantrī karaṇeṣu dāsī bhojyeṣu mātā śayaneṣu rambhā। dharmānukūlā kṣamayā dharitrī ṣaṭ-karma-yuktā kula-dharma-patnī॥

Meaning:In counsel like a minister, in service diligent like a devoted helper, in nourishing like a mother, in love like the celestial Rambha, ever favourable to righteousness, and in forbearance enduring like the Earth — the wife endowed with these six virtues is the noble guardian of the family's dharma. The verse poetically lists the six ideals that make a partner the strength and honour of a household.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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kāryeṣu🔊in matters of work, in counsel and decisions

mantrī🔊(like) a minister, a wise advisor

karaṇeṣu🔊in performing tasks, in service of duties

dāsī🔊(diligent) like a devoted servant

bhojyeṣu🔊in matters of food and nourishment

mātā🔊(caring) like a mother

śayaneṣu🔊in the bedchamber, in intimacy

rambhā🔊(beautiful and loving) like the apsara Rambha

dharmānukūlā🔊favourable to and supportive of righteousness (dharma)

kṣamayā🔊in forbearance, in patient forgiveness

dharitrī🔊(enduring) like the Earth

ṣaṭ-karma-yuktā🔊endowed with these six qualities (roles)

kula-dharma-patnī🔊the righteous wife who upholds the honour of the family

Benefits of Chanting कार्येषु मन्त्री करणेषु दासी

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Describes the timeless ideal of partnership and mutual support in family life

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Celebrates wisdom, diligence, care, love, righteousness and patience together

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Offers a poetic framework for the virtues that hold a household in harmony

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Frequently quoted at weddings and in teachings on the householder's dharma

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Inspires respect, appreciation and balance between life partners

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A short, memorable verse on the dignity and strength of the home

How to Chant कार्येषु मन्त्री करणेषु दासी

Repetitions3times

Best TimeDuring reflections on family life, marriage ceremonies, or grihastha teachings

Recite the verse calmly, contemplating each of the six images — minister, devoted helper, mother, Rambha, supporter of dharma, and the patient Earth. Reflect on these as ideals of partnership and mutual respect rather than rigid rules. It is often quoted in marriage blessings and discourses on harmonious family living.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete कार्येषु मन्त्री करणेषु दासी written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

The verse lists six ideal roles of a life-partner: a wise minister in counsel, a diligent helper in tasks, a caring mother in nourishment, a loving Rambha in intimacy, a supporter of righteousness (dharma), and one as forbearing as the Earth in patience.

It is a celebrated subhashita (wise saying) from the classical Sanskrit niti tradition, widely transmitted in collections of moral and worldly wisdom. It is one of the most quoted verses on the ideal of an honourable household.

The Earth (Dharitri) bears all burdens silently and forgives endlessly, so it is the classic Sanskrit symbol of patience and forbearance (kshama). The verse holds up this boundless patience as one of the six great virtues of a noble partner.