57 - Detachment of Lakshmi

Narayana said - О Narada adoring the gods, the chaste Lakshmi stopped crying who was pleased with their prayer.

Mahalakshmi said - О gods, I am not ending my life because of detachment on anger. Therefore, whatever has been resolved by me in my mind, I am going to tell you. You please listen to it.

The supreme lord is great and is alive for all. He is without qualities, is the soul of all, blissful and for him there is hardly any difference between a blade of grass and a mountain. Therefore, the one who could by his simple frowning create lakhs of Lakshmi and treat equally the wives of others as well as the servants, what is the use of serving him? 

I am the foremost of all his wives, in spite of that the gate-keepers stopped me like him who happens to be the servant of the servants. I am no more attracted towards Krishna. Having been deprived of the fortune of my husband, I am desirous of the fire flames and intend to end my life in them. I can by doing so achieve the welfare which I did earlier.

The woman who is deprived of the fortune of her husband, becomes unfortunate from all sides. She does not enjoy any pleasure in sleep and taking food and her life becomes useless. The one who cannot achieve love for her husband, her life is of no consequence. Therefore, the sun, riches, beauty, wealth and youthfulness are of no consequence to her. 

The one who is not devoted lovingly towards her husband, becomes impure, devoid of dharma and is prevented from performing all the duties.

Because the husband happens to be the true relative, the movement, the preserver, the god and the teacher and as such he happens to be the supreme lord. There is no other teacher better than the husband. О gods, the parents, the sun and brother can endow with the riches with difficulties but even to the foolish wives, their husbands provide them everything. 

Therefore, only an immensely chaste lady could realise the true importance of her husband. Having been born in a high family such a damsel is quite humble and follows the tradition of the family.

The one who is born in a low family, possessing a hostile temperament, devoid of dharma, speaker of harsh words and becomes a loose woman, always denounces her husband in anger. 

Such of the women who is the best of all and becomes envious and her husband like Vishnu who happens to be her teacher. She has to fall in the Kumbhipaka hell for a period of fourteen Indras. The woman who is not devoted to her husband, all her vratas, fasting, performing of charities, good deeds and the tapas performed for a long time, are reduced to ashes.

Therefore, I shall not speak out anything against my heartless husband who happens to be the lord and because of the sin committed by his servants, I shall end my life.

Because the immensely chaste woman does not utter harsh words to her husband even when he is at fault and in case, she is unable to bear the insult she devotedly ends her life.

Therefore, it is incumbent on the women to serve their husband. The serving of husband is a great tapa. The serving of the husband is the great dharma and the serving of the husband is like the adoration of the gods, the serving of the husband is quite truthful and is the form of the holy places as well as the performing of the charities. Therefore, the husband of the woman is equated with gods. He has the form of the gods and has the auspicious form.

He is immensely chaste and happens to be lord Krishna in the form of husband. Therefore, such of the women who consume the food taken by her husband and sip the water of his feet, the gods are always anxious to have an audience with such women. With the touch of such women all the holy places are relieved of all the sins. 

Thus, speaking the immensely chaste Lakshmi started sobbing again and again. Witnessing this Brahma spoke to her in great devotion. 

Brahma said- О chaste damsel, you have not pronounced a curse on Jaya and Vijaya, taking it to be sinful, keeping in view the mind of the husband. Therefore, those foolish people will never achieve salvation. If a noble person out of his merciful nature does not pronounce a curse, he surely meets with his destruction. 

In case he is unable to pronounce a curse and is also not in a position to give some punishment then in such a case the sinner is punished by dharma himself.

Therefore, О mother, whatever has happened you kindly forgive it and direct me who happens to be a devotee of your lord, in engaging myself in the task of the creation of the universe. You also better go back to your beloved.

Thus, speaking Brahma in the company of the gods and the sages placing Lakshmi in the fore front proceeded to Vaikuntha in order to offer prayer to lord Vishnu. 

On reaching their Brahma who was seated on the seat of lotus flower, started adoring the lord with all his four faces.

The lord Kamalapati listened to the prayer of Brahma and also looked at Lakshmi who was standing there lowering her head. 

Lord said- О Brahma born of the lotus, I know everything and happen to be the soul of all, I am the preserver of all, I control all and happen to be the cause of all. Thus, I know everything. 

I have a feeling of equality for my devotees, the wife of other relatives but the main thing is that my devotee is greater than my wife therefore the invincible gate-keepers who happen to be my great devotees and are your own sons, you kindly forgive their fault and also mine. 

A devotee of mine filled with my devotion never gets panicky from the valorous warriors or even the demons. By consuming the wine of the devotion, my devotees get intoxicated and they are protected always with my Sudarshana-chakra. Thus, speaking the lord of the universe held Lakshmi and embraced her. Thereafter he called for the gate-keepers and said to them, 'O sons, don't be afraid. Remain comfortable. You cannot be afraid of any one till I am there. Who else can rule on my devotees? Therefore, О sons, you be established nicely in your position. 

О great sage, thus speaking lord Vishnu kept quiet. Thereafter all the gods bowing in reverence to the lord of the universe retired to their respective abodes.

On hearing the words of Narayana, the bodies of the gate-keeper were overwhelmed and their hair stood on end, they stood in devotion and said.

Jaya said- О lord since I am devoted at your lotus-like feet with a stable mind, I am not afraid of Lakshmi, the gods and the sages.