24. Pativrata

In the Mbh. and the Puranas, hyperbolical descriptions of the power of the Pativrata occur frequently The Brahma Purana also provides many instances of the devoted wives. There is an extreme case when merely on hearing about the death of a husband, the wife too gave up her life (138.16). Infidelity to husband was considered to be a great sin and it was believed that such women went to Aksaya hell. is stated that if the parents do not behave in a proper way, the children inhere their bad qualities. Thus it is said that if the parents are bad in character, i.e.if the wife has intercourse with persons other than her husband and if the husband has intercourse with persons other than her wife, then both of them incur the dosa called Anyonyaretavyatisanga and the children by both of them also incurred the same dosa (128.29-37). Again it is said that those wives who are Pativratas know everything in the world and the whole world 144 Elsewhere the Br.P.declares that the moon gets the spot on account of his sin of abducting Tara and Tara is reaccepted by Brhaspati after purifying her with the water of the river Gautami (A.152).. 145 Kane P.V., Op.Cit., Vol.II, PP. 567 ff. 146 Manasa 'pyanyapurresam papisthah, Kamayanti Jah 1 aksayanyanti narakanstasam sarve'pi Purnajah 11.877.61

367 is held by them.147 The contentment of husband and wife was much valued. The Brahma Purana states that when both husband and wife satisfy each other, there is an increment of Dharma, Artha and Kama.148 The husband had the power to curse the wife who was disloyal to him. Thus the sage Gautama cursed Ahalya for enjoying with Indra though through no fault or desire of her own. (A.87). Caitrarathi or The Brahma Purana furnishes many instances of Pativrata ladies. Thus it is said that Gauri, the wife of king Pradenjit was a great Pativrata(7.91). Bindumati, the daughter of Sasabindu became the wife of king Mandhata and was a great Pativrata (7.94). Dhumini, the wife of Ajamidha was a great Pativrata. She practised 3 severe penance for 10,000 years and obtained a son (13.103- 105). Malini, the wife of king Svetakarna also was very devoted to him. Svetakarna went to a forest and Malini followed him. On her way, she gave birth to a child but being devoted to her husband, she kept the child where it was born and went after her husband (13.127-131). Saibya, the wife of king Jyamagha, was very devoted to her husband. 147 Srutamasti Punascedam striye yasca pativratah | Ta eva Sarvam Jananti Dhrutam tabhiscaracaram 1) (129.54). 148 Yatranukulyan dampatyostrivargastarra vardhatel· 138.13.

368 Even though, her husband had no children by her, he did not marry again, but Saibya also practised severe penance and obtained a son (15.20). The Brahma Purana denotes a whole adhyaya to describe how the Pativrata is cherished by her husband (A.80). Reference should be made to one discordant factor, viz., the presence of co-wives in the married life of woman. The Brahma Purana also states that jealousy among the co-wives was Diti was very enraged when she saw that the very common. 149 progeny of her co-wife Aditi was flourishing while that of her own diminished day by day. 150 Devayani also is depicted as jealous of Sarmistha on account of that very fact (146.9). An instance may be added how one of the wives of king Bahu had given poison to her co-wife Yadavi, when she was pregnant and as a result she gave birth to a child who was poisonous and eventually became well-known as Sagara (8.36-40). The relationship of Vinata and Kadru might also be noted in this connection (A. 159).