209 - The greatness of the chaste women 

Nārada said: 

1. “O great king clad in black, please tell me by what virtuous deeds or penance do the saintly women attain the supreme path.” 

2. Asked thus by Närada, the lord of dharma said: 

Yama said: 

3. It is not the observance of rules nor penance, fasting or gifts nor worship of god, but the conduct about which I shall tell you in brief. 

4. She who sleeps after the husband sleeps, wakes up before he wakes up and cats after he has eaten, certainly overcomes death. 

5. She who remains silent when he is silent and stands when he stands, overcomes death. 

6. I am afraid of her who has the same outlook and mind as the husband’s and carries out what he says. She becomes honoured even by gods. 

7-8. She who never retorts to whatever the husband says, remains calm even when chastised by him and never considers anyone other than him as god, never goes to the mouth of death. 

9-10. She who always attends to the comforts of her husband and follows him closely, never enters the mouth of death. 

11. She who attends on the husband considering him the mother, the father, the relation and god, overcomes me. In fact, I bow to her. 

12. She who always thinks of her husband, follows the husband and shares the woes of the husband, never sees the door of death. 

13. She who never turns her attention to music or dance or similar other attractions, never sees the door of death. 

14. She who does not think of any one other than the husband when bathing, standing or decorating, never sees the door of death. 

15. She who has her husband in mind when worshipping god or feeding the Brahmin, never sees the door of death. 

16. She who wakes up before sunrise and cleans the house, never sees the door of death. 

17. She who keeps well covered the eyes, body and the feelings and always observes the rules of cleanliness, never sees the door of death. 

18. She who looks at the face of the husband with a view to carry out his desire and is always ready to do anything for his good, never sees the door of death. 

19. Such virtuous wives of men in this world will be seen as goddesses in heaven. 

20. All this was said by God Sun regarding the chaste woman. 

21. Knowing all this, I honour the chaste woman.