Sacred Concord

Mbh 3.205.2

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

“Markandeya continued, ‘Having repeated these words many times, that learned Brahmana entered a village for procuring alms. And, O bull of the Bharata race, in course of his eleemosynary round among the houses of persons of good lineage, the Brahmana entered one such house that he knew from before. And as he entered the house, he said, ‘Give’. And he was answered by a female with the word, ‘Stay’. And while the housewife was engaged, O king, in cleaning the vessel from which alms are given, her husband, O thou best of the Bharatas, suddenly entered the house, very much afflicted with hunger. The chaste housewife beheld her husband and disregarding the Brahmana, gave her lord water to wash his feet and face and also a seat and after that the black-eyed lady, placing before her lord savoury food and drink, humbly stood beside him desirous of attending to all his wants. And, O Yudhishthira, that obedient wife used every day to eat the orts of her husband’s plate and, always conducting herself in obedience to the wishes of the lord, that lady ever regarded her husband, and all her heart’s affections inclined towards her lord. Of various and holy behaviour and skilful in all domestic duties and attentive to all her relatives, she always did what was agreeable and beneficial to her husband and she also, with rapt senses attended to the worship of the gods and the wants of guests and servants and her mother-in-law and father-in-law.
Mbh 3.205.2 · Mahabharata · VANA PARVA

Themes in this passage

MarriageThe DivineCharityPovertyDharmaLeadershipSpeechSuffering

Marriage in other traditions

The same theme, as Christianity, Islam and Hellenism address it.

Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
1 Corinthians 7:3 · Bible · 1 Corinthians
Allah citeth an example for those who disbelieve: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot, who were under two of Our righteous slaves yet betrayed them so that they (the husbands) availed them naught against Allah and it was said (unto them): Enter the Fire along with those who enter.
Quran 66:10 · Quran · The Prohibition
“Then I saw Alcmena, the wife of Amphitryon, who also bore to Jove indomitable Hercules; and Megara who was daughter to great King Creon, and married the redoubtable son of Amphitryon.
Odyssey 11.22 · Odyssey · 11
Helen, after the death of Paris, married Deiphobus his brother, and at the taking of Troy betrayed him, in order to reconcile herself to Menelaus her first husband, who received her again into favour.
Iliad 24.79 · Iliad · 24

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