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A CRITICAL STUDY OF PAUMACARIYAN
both were combined. It was the duty of the husband to look after his wife's well-being whereas the wife was required to assist her husband in discharging his duties to the family. Therefore, it was necessary that the husband accorded due respect to his wife. Thus the PCV reveals that when the wife of Vibhīşana requested Rāma to become her guest Vibhisapa immediately consented to her by taking Rama to his residence (77. 19-20). The wife had equal voice in family-matters. When Kaikeyi wanted to marry Bharata to Subhadrā, Dasaratha quickiy favoured her decision (28. 134). Răvapa was ready to kill Kharadūşana who had abducted his sister, Candranakhā, but Mandodarī's request prevailed and the former desisted from killing. (9. 15)
The wife is also called Piyā=Priyă (37. 32). Kanta = Kántā (105. 97) and Vallaha = Vallabha (68. 39) which indicate that she received love and affection from her husband. The duty of the husband was not only to maintain his wife but to keep her happy. In moments of difficulty he was required to sympathise with his wife. For that she is called Daiyā=Dayita (60, 39). It was on account of this relation of love that a husband is found to be fulfilling the pregnancy wishes of his wife (7 3; 92. 12). Rāma readily plays water-sports with Sita when she requests for the same (42. 17). The bond of love were so deep that the husband had to do his best for the safety and happiness of his wife. When Sita is kidnapped Rāma gets distressed in her separation (44.51-66). He undertakes the hazardous task of helping Sugrīva in restoring the latter's wife (47. 30). He does not feel happy in absence of Sita though many other girls come to his rescue (47. 57). He rejects all land and wealth which are offered by Rāvana (65. 16-19). He feels happy only when he gets back his beloved wife (76. 15) and he did not mind all the sufferings and pains that he underwent in his attempt to regain Sitā. The story of Rāma is a theme of the faithful duty of a husband to his wife. Sugrīva's wife was deceptively claimed by a sham Sugrīva. Sugrīva became ready to suffer for Rama the pains of tracing Sītā because it was his duty to take help from Rāma in restoring Tārā and making her happy. Sugrīva undertook to perform the most severe task of fighting Ravana for rescuing Sītā because he was previously helped by Rāma in getting reunited with his own wite. Pavanañjaya was ready to commit suicide in separation from his wife when he could not trace his exiled wife (18. 14). Purohita Madhupingala (26.18) and weaver Viraka (21.5) were greatly pained when their wives were kidnapped by some ones. They did their best to retrieve them,
