The history of a chaste woman

Markandeya said : O descendant of the Bharata race, there was a high class Brahmana, known by the name of Kaushika, who was a student of the Vedas and was rich with the wealth of devotion, himself a great devotee and possessed of virtuous behaviour.

That foremost of the Brahmanas had finished the study of the Vedas with the Angas and the Upanishadas. On a certain day, he was reciting the Vedas, seated on the root of a tree.

On that occasion there sat on the top of the tree a female crane, which at the time voided excrement on the body of the Brahmana.

Thereupon the twice-born one, who was greatly chraged, beholding the female crane, intended to do her an injury. The crane was looked by him, when he became insensible with great rage.

Having been injured by the Brahmana, the crane fell down upon the ground; and as she fell, the Brahmana, seeing her insensible and lifeless,

Became oppressed with compassion and lamented for her, saying, 'I have committed a crime forced by passion and anger.'

Markandeya said : Having uttered these words several times, the educated Brahmana entered a village for alms and foremost of the Bharata race, after having gone round the sacred families in the village.

He, at last entered a house where he used to come before. There he asked by saying-'Give'. Thereupon he was answered by a female, saying, 'wait'.

While the matron was cleansing the vessel for giving the alms, then, her husband entered the house all of a sudden. O foremost of the Bharata race, oppressed with great hunger.

Her husband, O foreinost of the Bharat race, entered the house all on a sudden. The chaste house-wife, seeing her husband and neglecting that Brahmana, gave to her husband water for rinsing the feet and mouth, as also a seat.

Then the black-eyed matron served her husband with sweet food and drink and stood by his side, as if to attend to all what he would want. O Yudhishthira, that lady, devoted to her husband, daily ate the remnants of her husband's dish.

That lady, always pursuing the thoughts of her husband, regarded the husband, as a celestial; and either in action, thought or speech, she never considered her husband otherwise.

Her thoughts all turned towards her husband; and she was always engaged in serving her lord. She was virtuous and was skillful in good behaviours; and also was ever beneficent to her relatives.

She was always attentive to what was beneficial to her husband and with her controlled passions she daily attended to the service of the gods, the guests, the mother-inlaw, the father-in-law and the servants.

While thus engaged in the service of her husband, she of beautiful eyes saw the Brahmana, who was still waiting for alms.

Remembering this she was ashamed. Then, O foremost of the Bharata race, that chaste and famous lady went away to give alms to the Brahmanas.

The Brahmana said : O the most excellent of women, what was this, that you requested me to wait and that you have not dismissed me?

Markandeya said : O foremost of individuals, seeing that Brahmana greatly enraged and effulgent in energy, the chaste lady addressed him in friendly expressions.

The Woman said : O learned one, it behoves you to grant me forgiveness. My husband is my chief god. He was very hunger and fatigued. Finding him thus, I served him.

Brahmana said: The Brahmanas are not regarded by you to be superior, rather you supposed your lord to be superior to all. Living a domestic life you disrespect the Brahmanas.

Not to mention the men on earth, even Indra bows down to them. O proud one, do you not know or have you not heard from old men that really the Brahmanas are like fire and even can burn the wheel earth.

The Woman said: O sage-like Brahmana, O you who are possessed of the wealth of asceticism, do not consider that I am the female crane. Wrathful as you are, what will you do to me by this your wrathful look? Really I never disrespect the Brahmanas, who are like the celestials themselves, possessed of great energy.

O Brahmanas, O sinless one, you should forgive this fault of mine. I know the energy of the Brahmanas, as also the superior position of those who are possessed of great intelligence.

By their wrath the ocean was made brackish and undrinkable. (I know also the energy of) the sages, blazing with asceticism. and who are possessed of restrained souls. The fire of their wrath has not been appeased us yet in the woods Dandaka.

Owing to his disregard of the Brahmanas, the evil-minded Vatapi, the crooked, but great Asura, having advanced to the sage, Agastya, was digested by him.

Thus the superior energy of the high-souled Brahmanas has been heard. O Brahmana, the high-souled ones possess immense wrath, as also a good deal of forgiveness. O Brahmana, O sinless one, it behoves you to grant me forgiveness in this matter of my transgression.

O regenerate one, the merit, that is derived from the worship of my husband, is liked by me. Of all the gods, my husband is my highest deity.

the most excellent of the Brahmanas, I cultivate that special virtue viz., the serving of my husband as the highest god. O Brahmana, you observe what results from the worship of one's husband.

It is known to me that the female crane was consumed by you with your wrath. But, O best of the Brahmanas, the wrath of persons, that resides in their body, is their mortal enemy.

The gods know him to be a Brahmana, who forsakes his wrath and spiritual ignorance; and who also speaks the truth here and comforts the preceptor, who having himself injured, never injures others.

Who again, possesses passions all controlled; and who is holy, virtuous and ever devoted to the studies of the Vedas and who has a control over the wrath and desires. The gods know him to be a Brahmana,

Who again, acquainted with virtue and possessed of energy, consider man to be equal to him. Who is conversant with all systems of a religion. The gods know him to be Brahmana.

Who himself studies and teaches others; and who, again, performs sacrifices himself and presides at the sacrifices performed by others, who gives away according to his means. The gods know him to be a Brahmana.

Who that foremost of the Brahmanas, is a Brahmachari, possessed of liberality and always attends to the studies, who carefully studies (the Vedas). The gods know him to be a Brahmana.

What is agreeable to the Brahmanas repeats before them. The mind of those, who always walk in the path of truth, never takes pleasure in untruth.

The virtue of the Brahmana is said to consist in the study of the Vedas, in the repression of all passions and in the simplicity of manners.

O best of the Brahmanas, the persons, who are versed in morality, consider the subduing of the senses, truth and simplicity of behaviours to be the eternal and highest virtue. Virtue is eternal and difficult of attainment. It is established upon truth. Virtue, again, rests entirely upon Shruti, which is the saying of old men.

O foremost of the Brahmanas, virtue seems to be varied and fine. You, too, are holy, virtuous and devoted to the study of the Vedas.

O all-powerful one, in my opinion, you do not know the real essence of virtue. O Brahmana, O regenerate one, if you do not know that highest virtue, go to the city of Mithila and there you ask the virtuous Fowler.

That fowler lives in Mithila, who is ever ready to serve his father and mother, who is truthful and who has a control over his passions. O foremost of the twice-born ones, He will explain to you the different systems of religion. If you like, you, O blessed one, may go there.

Whatever. I tell you, tell you, is merely merely an exaggeration; and, therefore, O sinless one, you should excuse me. For to them, who really learns virtue, the women are incapable of being injured.

The Brahmana said: O beauteous lady, be happy. I am much satisfied with you. My wrath has been appeased. The chiding's uttered by you will prove most beneficial to me. O beautiful one, be happy. I shall go there and perform what is advantageous to me.

Markandeya said : Thus dismissed by her, Kaushika, the foremost of the twice-born ones, came out; and, chiding himself, returned to his own house.