Chapter 232

“Draupadi said, ‘I shall now indicate to thee, for attracting the heartof thy husbands a way that is free from deceit. By adopting it duly, dearfriend, thou will be able to draw away thy lord from other females. Inall the worlds, including that of the celestials, there is no god equal,O Satyabhama, unto the husband. When he is gratified with thee, thoumayst have (from thy husband) every object of desire; when he is angry,all these may be lost. It is from her husband that the wife obtainethoffspring and various articles of enjoyment. It is from thy husband thatthou mayst have handsome beds and seats, and robes and garlands, andperfumes, and great fame and heaven itself hereafter. One cannot obtainhappiness here by means that are easy. Indeed, the woman that is chaste,obtains weal with woe. Always adore Krishna, therefore, with friendshipand love physical sufferings. And do thou also act in a way, by offeringhandsome seats and excellent garlands and various perfumes and promptservice, that he may be devoted to thee, thinking, ‘I am truly loved byher!’ Hearing the voice of thy lord at the gate, rise thou up from thyseat and stay in readiness within the room. And as soon as thou seest himenter thy chamber, worship him by promptly offering him a seat and waterto wash his feet. And even when he commands a maidservant to do anything,get thou up and do it thyself. Let Krishna understand this temper of thymind and know that thou adorest him with all thy heart. And, OSatyabhama, whatever thy lord speaketh before thee, do not blab of iteven if it may not deserve concealment,–for if any of thy co-wives wereto speak of it unto Vasudeva, he might be irritated with thee. Feed thouby every means in thy power those that are dear and devoted to thy lordand always seek his good. Thou shouldst, however, always keep thyselfaloof from those that are hostile to and against thy lord and seek to dohim injury, as also from those that are addicted to deceit. Foregoing allexcitement and carelessness in the presence of men, conceal thyinclinations by observing silence, and thou shouldst not stay or conversein private even with thy sons, Pradyumna and Samva. Thou shouldst formattachments with only such females as are high-born and sinless anddevoted to their lords, and thou shouldst always shun women that arewrathful, addicted to drinks, gluttonous, thievish, wicked and fickle.Behaviour such as this is reputable and productive of prosperity; andwhile it is capable of neutralising hostility, it also leadeth to heaven.Therefore, worship thou thy husband, decking thyself in costly garlandsand ornaments and smearing thyself with unguents and excellent perfumes.”