Ten Shlokas of additional duties of a Vidhva Stree (widowed women) are given. This first Shloka explains their primary duty - that is to simply worship Lord Shree Krishna in the manner they would their husband. ‘They should worship God Vishnu as they would their husbands’, explains Skanda Purana and others. (Note - it is assumed that they served and worshipped their husbands with the utmost faith and respect!!).
They should never act or live independently: Acharadhyaya explains, ‘When she is young, her father should protect her; when married, her husband; and when of old age - her sons. If she has no sons, then her acquaintances should protect her, but she should never be left alone and independent.’ ‘A Vidhva should never become independent from her father, mother, son, brother, mother-in-law, father-in-law or maternal uncle. If she does then she becomes subject to slander.’
Smruti explains further that if there is nobody to protect her then the King should adopt such role and look after her. Also, ‘Women should not think of living independently away from their father, husband or son. Those that do subject both sides of the family to slander and ill repute.’ Manu explains, ‘Women, whether of young age or old, should never act independently in the home.’ Thus they should always act with the permission and advice of those closest to them.