Chapter 16 — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 16

Valmiki Ramayana — Sundara Kanda

Verse 16.24

भर्ता नाम परं नार्याः शोभनं भूषणादपि। एषा हि रहिता तेन शोभनार्हा न शोभते॥

bhartā nāma paraṃ nāryāḥ śobhanaṃ bhūṣaṇādapi| eṣā hi rahitā tena śobhanārhā na śobhate||

English Meaning

Husband enhance the beauty of a female more than the dress (and therefore Sītā) beautiful as she is, dose not appear graceful, in her husband's absence.

M.N. Dutt (1891–94, public domain)