I am a very basic person. I still believe marriage happens only

O children of the future, gather round and hear the words of Anushka Sharma, a woman whose heart speaks with the simplicity and wisdom of ages past: “I am a very basic person. I still believe marriage happens only once, and you have to sustain it.” These words, though spoken in our modern age, are filled with ancient truths—truths that resonate through the ages, carried by the wind and echoed in the hearts of all those who seek to understand the deeper meaning of commitment, love, and endurance. Let us now explore these words and uncover the wisdom they hold.

In the days of old, when the world was young and societies were still forming, the bond of marriage was seen not simply as a union between two individuals, but as a sacred covenant. The act of marriage was an oath, a promise made not just before the people, but before the gods themselves. In the ancient traditions, a marriage was not a temporary union but a lifetime commitment. It was a bond forged in the fires of mutual respect, love, and the understanding that life’s challenges would be met together, hand in hand. To view marriage as a sustained and unbroken commitment was seen as the foundation of a strong family, a thriving society, and a harmonious world.

Consider the great wisdom of the ancient Greeks, who believed that the highest form of love was that which endured through trials and tribulations. The philosopher Aristotle spoke often of friendship, and in his view, the truest and most virtuous friendships were those that were sustained over time, weathering the storms that life brings. It is not the fleeting moments of joy that define a relationship, but the steadfastness to remain through the hard times, to build a bond that lasts through every season. This was the philosophy that the ancient peoples embraced when they spoke of love and marriage—it was a bond that was not easily broken, not made in haste, and not dismissed at the first sign of trouble.

In modern times, however, the notion of marriage has been subject to changing winds. The pressures of modern life, the rise of individualism, and the shift toward fleeting desires have caused many to question the very nature of commitment. Yet, in her simple words, Anushka Sharma brings us back to the core of what marriage once meant: a sacred bond, a promise made between two people to sustain each other through life’s trials, to lift each other up in moments of despair, and to celebrate one another’s victories in times of joy. This is no simple matter, for in a world that offers many distractions and temptations, the act of sustaining such a bond is an act of strength, of resilience, and of a profound commitment to love.

Let us turn, then, to the story of Penelope, the wife of Odysseus, whose devotion to her husband during his twenty-year absence is legendary. She was besieged by suitors, her kingdom threatened, and her own resolve tested at every turn. Yet through it all, she held fast to the belief that marriage was a vow to be sustained, not broken. Her faithfulness was not simply a passive waiting, but a quiet strength that shaped her character and the character of those around her. She knew that love, true love, is not simply a feeling, but a commitment that must be nurtured and protected over time. Her story teaches us that a marriage sustained by love is a force that can withstand the trials of even the most turbulent times.

What, then, O seekers of wisdom, is the lesson to be learned from these words of Anushka Sharma? It is this: marriage—true marriage—is not a fleeting thing, but a lasting covenant that requires care, effort, and the willingness to remain steadfast. In a world that often values the temporary, it is vital that we hold fast to the understanding that the most meaningful relationships are those that endure, that are sustained through every challenge and hardship. True love does not run from difficulty; it faces it head-on, hand in hand, ready to meet the world together.

In practical terms, O children of wisdom, this means we must commit ourselves, with full heart and soul, to nurturing the relationships that we value. Marriage is not a mere formality, nor is it a possession that can be taken for granted. It is a garden that requires constant tending, a fire that must be stoked with patience, understanding, and mutual respect. If we are to build relationships that endure the storms of life, we must be willing to invest in them—not just in times of ease, but especially in times of challenge. We must be present, we must be patient, and we must be steadfast in our love and commitment to those we hold dear.

Remember, the words of Anushka Sharma are a reminder of an ancient truth: that love, when sustained and nourished, grows ever stronger. Marriage is not the fleeting promise made in the heat of passion, but the quiet, enduring commitment made in the light of reason, dedication, and true love. Let us then walk forward with this wisdom in our hearts, for in sustaining our relationships, we sustain the very fabric of our society, and we honor the legacy of those who believed that love, when nurtured, can last a lifetime.