13.134
The Great Lord said.
O virtuous lady, knower of the remote and the near, knower of dharma, who dwells in the forest of penance, beautiful-browed and with lovely tresses, daughter of the Himavat mountain. (13-134-1)
O righteous lady, competent, endowed with tranquility and self-control, and free from possessiveness, I ask you, O best-hipped one. Having been questioned, speak that which I desire. (13-134-2)
Sāvitrī is the chaste wife of Brahmā, Śacī is the faithful wife of Kaushika, Dhūmorṇā is the wife of Mārtaṇḍaja, and Ṛddhi is the wife of Vaiśravaṇa. (13-134-3)
Then, Gaurī is the wife of Varuṇa, Suvarcalā of Sūrya, Rohiṇī of the Moon, Sādhvī, and Svāhā of the Fire. (13-134-4)
Aditi was (the wife) of Kaśyapa, and all those devoted to their husbands were constantly asked about and worshipped by you, O goddess. (13-134-5)
Therefore, I ask you, O knower and expounder of dharma; I wish to hear about the woman's dharma as taught by you from the beginning. (13-134-6)
You are my companion in dharma, equal in character, vows, and strength of essence, and you have performed intense austerity; indeed, that which is spoken by you will especially attain authority. (13-134-7)
Women, especially, always have this nature, O lovely-hipped one. Just as the cow goes to the meadow, so always is this state among the worlds. (13-134-8)
You, who emerged from my body's half, are the doer of the gods' work and the cause of the continuation of the world. (13-134-9)
O auspicious one, you fully know all about the eternal duty of women; therefore, please tell me in detail the complete law of women. (13-134-10)
Umā said.
O Lord, master of all beings and source of the past, present, and future; by your power, O God, this speech truly comes to me. (13-134-11)
But these rivers, O lord of the gods, endowed with the waters of all pilgrimages, stay nearby and serve you for the purpose of touching (you). (13-134-12)
Having deliberated together with these, I will set forth in order. He who has initiative and is not self-assertive is truly called a man. (13-134-13)
Woman, and even the lord of beings always pursues only a woman. The rivers that are honored by me will also become the best among rivers. (13-134-14)
This Sarasvatī is the holy and foremost of rivers; she is the first among all streams, the river that moves toward the ocean. (13-134-15)
Vipāśā, Vitastā, Candrabhāgā, Irāvatī, Śatadru, Devikā, Sindhu, Kauśikī, and Gomatī are also included. (13-134-16)
Thus the divine river, this Gaṅgā goddess, surrounded by all holy places, descended from the sky to the earth, the best among all rivers. (13-134-17)
After thus speaking, the wife of the lord of lords, foremost among the upholders of dharma, addressed all those rivers as if with a smile. (13-134-18)
The queen of the god, devoted to dharma, asked about women's duties. Gaṅgā and the other best of rivers, skilled in women's duties, (were present). (13-134-19)
This question given by the revered one, which concerns women's dharma—as for that, I wish to speak (on it) after consulting with all of you, O Śaṅkara. (13-134-20)
I do not perceive on earth the knowledge of anyone accomplished by a single person. Or in heaven, those who reach the ocean—on that account, I honor you. (13-134-21)
Bhishma said.
Thus, after all the most auspicious and meritorious best of rivers were questioned, then the divine river Gaṅgā, after being specially worshipped, was appointed. (13-134-22)
She, prosperous with many intellects, who knows the duties of women, with a pure smile, the goddess, daughter of the king of the mountains, virtuous and remover of sins, auspicious. (13-134-23)
Gaṅgā, possessed of intelligence, humility, and skill in all knowledge, smiling and endowed with great wisdom, spoke these words. (13-134-24)
We are blessed and favored, O goddess devoted to dharma; you, who are honored by all the worlds, honor the rivers, O sinless one. (13-134-25)
He who, though prominent, asks or again honours others, surely, a person with an innocent mind, attains the designation 'wise.' (13-134-26)
He who asks others, instead of teachers endowed with knowledge, realization, and expertise in inference and elimination, indeed does not attain the goal. (13-134-27)
Otherwise, one endowed with much intelligence speaks appropriately in an assembly; but the self-conceited one, on the other hand, indeed utters weak words (in a different manner). (13-134-28)
O goddess, you alone, ever possessed of the highest divine knowledge, merits, and virtues, are worthy to instruct us in the duty of women. (13-134-29)
Bhīṣma said.
Then, the goddess, well-pleased with Gaṅgā's many virtues, the celestial beauty spoke in full about the duties of women. (13-134-30)
I shall proclaim the duty of a woman as it appears to me, according to rule, so that it may become well-known. (13-134-31)
The duty of a woman is already established at the time of marriage by her relatives. Near the sacred fire she becomes the co-partner in dharma with her husband. (13-134-32)
She, of good nature, gentle speech, good conduct, pleasant appearance, single-mindedness, beautiful face, and devoted to her husband, is one who follows dharma. (13-134-33)
She is truly devoted to dharma and shares in dharma who, as a virtuous wife, always regards her husband as a god. (13-134-34)
She renders service and attendance, treats (her husband) as one fit to be honored like a goddess, is not attached to another, indeed is free from resentment, is of good vows, and pleasant in appearance. (13-134-35)
She who looks frequently at her husband's face as lovingly as at her son's face, that virtuous and disciplined woman is a true follower of dharma. (13-134-36)
Having heard the auspicious duty of husband and wife performed together, she, of pleasant countenance and undivided mind, devoted to her husband, practiced righteousness. (13-134-37)
A woman who remains cheerful towards her husband, even when spoken to with harsh words or treated cruelly, she is truly devoted to her husband. (13-134-38)
An excellent woman who looks at nothing but her husband—not even the moon and sun, nor a tree with a male name—she is one who practices righteousness. (13-134-39)
A woman who serves her husband, even when he is poor, afflicted with disease, distressed and tormented by hardship, as she would a son—she is truly a partaker in dharma. (13-134-40)
A woman, who is pure and skilled, who has sons, who is beloved of her husband and whose very life is her husband—she is the woman who partakes in dharma. (13-134-41)
The woman who always serves and attends without dejection, who is well-understood and humble, she is a sharer in virtue. (13-134-42)
She is a woman who partakes in righteousness, whose desire is for her husband as it is not for desires, enjoyments, sovereignty, or happiness. (13-134-43)
She is habitually an early riser, always devoted to serving her teacher, keeps her house well cleaned and smeared with cow-dung. (13-134-44)
She is always devoted to fire-rites, ever offering flowers and oblations, assigning them to deities, guests, and servants together with her husband. (13-134-45)
A woman, eating the remaining food in accordance with justice and rule, and always being content and nourished, is joined with dharma. (13-134-46)
A woman who serves the feet of her mother-in-law and father-in-law, is endowed with virtues, is always devoted to her mother and father—she is rich in austerity. (13-134-47)
The woman who supports with food Brāhmaṇas, the weak, the distressed, the miserable, and the pitiable—she is possessed of the merit of being devoted to her husband. (13-134-48)
She who always practices the vow, which is difficult to follow for those of weak nature, whose mind is set on her husband and is devoted to him, she is called a true pativratā (a woman devoted to her husband). (13-134-49)
This is merit, this indeed is austerity, this is eternal heaven—the woman who is supremely devoted to her husband, who observes the vow to her husband, she is auspicious. (13-134-50)
The husband is indeed the god for women; the husband is their kin, their refuge. There is no protection equal to the husband—no deity like the husband. (13-134-51)
For a woman, her husband's favor may be equal to heaven or not; O great lord, I would not desire heaven at all if you are not pleased with me. (13-134-52)
If the husband, whether poor, afflicted with disease, or under any circumstance, commands what should not be done, unrighteousness, or even the destruction of life, (then...) (13-134-53)
Whether one is afflicted, placed among enemies, or even struck by a brāhmaṇa's curse, one should, considering the codes of conduct in adversity, undertake that action without hesitation. (13-134-54)
O god, this woman's duty has been declared by me according to your statement. Any woman who thinks thus becomes a sharer in righteousness. (13-134-55)
Bhishma said.
Thus addressed, the lord of the gods, after duly honouring the daughter of the mountain, dismissed the worlds along with all their attendants. (13-134-56)
Then the hosts of beings and the rivers departed as they had come; and the Gandharvas and Apsarases, too, bowed their heads to Bhava (Śiva). (13-134-57)
