Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (Volume 1).pdf/191

Rh wife cometh out himself in the form of the son. Therefore is the wife called by those cognisant of the Vedas as Jaya (she of whom one is born). And the son that is so born unto persons cognisant of the Vedic Mantras rescueth the spirits of deceased ancestors. And because the son rescueth ancestors from the hell call Put, therefore, hath be been called by the Self-create himself as Puttra (the rescuer from Put). By a son one conquereth the three worlds. By a son's son, one enjoyeth eternity. And by a grandson's son great-grand fathers enjoy everlasting happiness. She is a true wife who is skilful in household affairs. She is a true wife who bath born a son. She is a true wife whose heart is devoted to her lord. She is a true wife who knoweth none but her lord. The wife is a man's balt. The wife is the first of friends. The wife is the root of religion, profit, and desire. The wife is the root of salvation. They that have wives can perform religious acts. They that bave wives can lead domestic lives. They that have wives have the means to be cheerful. They that have wives can achieve good fortune. Sweet-speeched wives are friends on occasions of joy. They are as fathers on occasions of religious acts. They are mothers in sickness and woe. Even in the deep woods to a traveller a wife is his refreshment and solace. He that hath a wife is trusted by all. A wife, therefore, is one's most valuable possession. Even when the husband leaving this world goeth into the region of Yama, it is the devoted wife that accompanies him thither. A wife going before waits for the husband. But if the husband goeth before, the chaste wife followeth close. For these reasons, O king, doth marriage exist. The husband enjoyeth the companionship of the wite both in this and in the other worlds. It hath been said by learned persons that one is himself born as one's son. Therefore, a man whose wife hath born a son should look upon her as his mother. Beholding the face of the son one hath begotten upon his wife, like his own face in a mirror, one feeleth as happy as a virtuous man, on attaining to heaven. Men scorched by mental grief, or suffering under bodily pain, feel as much refreshed in the companiouship of their wives as a perspiring person in a cool bath. No man, even in anger, should ever do anything that is disagreeable to bis wife, seeing that happiness, joy, and virtue,-everything dependeth on the wife. A wife is the sacred field in which the fusband is born himself. Even Rishis cannot create creatures without women. What happiness is greater than what the father feels when the son running to wards him, even though his body be covered with dust, clasps his limbs? Why then dost thou treat with indifference such a son, who hath appro. ached thee himself and who casteth wistful glances towards thee for climbing thy knees? Even ants support their own eggs without destroy. ing them, then why shouldst not thou, virtuous as thou art, support thy

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