________________
-470]
48. VIRTUOUS WOMAN
464) Though dwelling in a house standing on the fringe of a public square, though lovely in her looks, though young in age, though having her husband gone abroad (on a journey), though having a woman of bad character as her next-door neighbour and though (herself) plunged in poverty, still she has maintained her virtue (moral character) inviolate.
335
465) A certain pretty, young, naive woman, pure in her mind, whose brother-in-law harbours in his mind sinful thoughts about her and whose beloved consort is wild (or furious) in his temper, does not complain to her husband (about her brother-inlaw), for fear of discord (disintegration) in the family and languishes away.
456) She is a dutiful house-wife in domestic matters, she is unreserved and bold like a harlot in sexual (amorous) dalliance, she is a high-born, respectable lady in dealing with good people, she is a trusted friend in old age and is like a counseller and devoted servant in adversity.
467) Lo and behold-in the case of a high-born virtuous woman, when her dear consort decided to leave the house and go out on a journey, her youthful attractiveness, her loveliness, her amorous actions and graceful gestures-one and all-started to go away (in advance of her dear consort) (i.e. they deserted her completely).
the 458) The chastity (constancy) of women is due to greatness (virtuousness) of the particular men (whom they love) and not due to family-tradition (the nobility of the family in which those men or women are born). Though the king Hala went to heaven (i.e. is dead), the river Goda does not forsake the city of Pratiṣṭhāna.
469) Oh female messenger, what is the good of your proposing something to me, which is repugnant to my well-being both in this and the other world, which is unpleasant (hateful) to the which is reprehensible and which is discreditable to both the families (my father's and my husband's families)?
ear,
470) If he is really a lover of virtue and an appreciator of virtue and hence extols my amiable qualities-well, if I (succumb
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
