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334
VAJJALAGGAM
[ 457–
457) The virtuous house-wife in the house of a poor, wretched person, when asked:(by her female friends) about the object of her longing in her pregnancy, tries to avoid embarassment to her husband and says that mere water is the object of her yearning..
458) When her dear consort's friend (or relative) had come as a guest, the noble-born young house-wife in the house of a poor, wretched person, began to sell away the auspicious (golden) bangles (on her wrist) and thereby caused the village (-people) to weep (i. e. moved them to tears).
459) Even on the death of her relative, alas, the virtuous house-wife of a poor,wretched person did not weep as bitterly as when the pet (favourite) crow flew away dejected, at not getting the wonted daily offering of food.
460) The house-wife ignorant of the death of her dear consort and every day properly (neatly) arranging her tresses and making. the crow to fly away (scaring away the crow)(saying to the crow''Get: away, my consort is soon returning”), causes the village (-people) to weep (i. e. moves the village-people to tears).
461) Though herself afflicted with hunger (the virtuous house-wife of a poor, wretched person) gives away to the poor and needy whatever food is left over after the young ones in the house have had their meal. Oh, the pity of it, the virtuous house-wives of poor, wretched people suffer because of their desire to keep up the good name (prestige) of their family (to preserve the family's good name).
462) In trying to save the prestige (face) of her poor, wretched husband, who prided himself on his noble birth, the virtuous house-wife spites her own relatives (from her father's and mother's families), coming to her house with pomp and show of opulence.
49. The Section on the Virtuous Woman 463) "Let that woman raise her finger aloft, who does not: yearn for my husband. Let that youth, whoever he may be, speak out, towards whom I have ever cast my glance !"
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