Chapter 46

“Bhishma said, They that are conversant with ancient history recite thefollowing verse of Daksha, the son of Prachetas: That maiden, in respectof whom nothing is taken by her kinsmen in the form of dowry cannot besaid to be sold.[293] Respect, kind treatment, and everything else thatis agreeable, should all be given unto the maiden whose hand is taken inmarriage. Her sire and brothers and father-in-law and husband’s brothersshould show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments, if they bedesirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct on their part always leadsto considerable happiness and advantage. If the wife does not like herhusband or fails to gladden him, from such dislike and absence of joy,the husband can never have issue for increasing his race. Women, O king,should always be worshipped and treated with affection. There where womenare treated with respect, the very deities are said to be filled withjoy. There where women are not worshipped, all acts become fruitless. Ifthe women of a family, in consequence of the treatment they receive,grieve and shed tears, that family soon becomes extinct. Those housesthat are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched bysome Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendour. Their growth andprosperity cease. O king, Mann, on the eve of his departure for Heaven,made over women to the care and protection of men, saying that they areweak, that they fall an easy prey to the seductive wiles of men,[294]disposed to accept the love that is offered them, and devoted to truth.There are others among them that are full of malice, covetous of honours,fierce in disposition, unlovable, and impervious to reason. Women,however, deserve to be honoured. Do ye men show them honour. Therighteousness of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoymentsalso completely depend upon them. Do ye serve them and worship them. Doye bend your wills before them. The begetting of offspring, the nursingof children already born, and the accomplishment of all acts necessaryfor the needs of society, behold, all these have women for their cause.By honouring women, ye are sure to attain to the fruition of all objects.In this connection a princess of the house of Janaka the ruler of theVidehas, sang a verse. It is this: Women have no sacrifices ordained forthem. There are no Sraddhas which they are called upon to perform. Theyare not required to observe any facts. To serve their husbands withreverence and willing obedience is their only duty. Through the dischargeof that duty they succeed in conquering heaven. In childhood, the sireprotects her. The husband protects her in youth. When she becomes old,her sons, protect her. At no period of her life does woman deserve to befree. Deities of prosperity are women. The person that desire affluenceand prosperity should honour them. By cherishing women, O Bharata, onecherishes the goddess of prosperity herself, and by afflicting her, oneis said to afflict the goddess of prosperity.'”