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THE WAY OF LIFE
arguments and discussions. Be strong; and, with courage, proceed on the path of transformation.
Here, I am mentioning some special and important points relating to the domestic life of men and women. If you practise these principles your spiritual endeavours will be free from impediments, interruptions and anxieties. Moreover, your spiritual endeavours will be free and ideal. You will be able to achieve spiritual elevation with a peaceful mind.
Suppose that you marry a girl who belongs to a different lineage (gotra) than yours; that she has such virtues as purity and nobility and that you marry her at the proper age. But it is your duty to safeguard her and to take care of her. You have to think of her physical and mental welfare. That means, you must pay attention to her physical health and it is also your responsibility to see that she always entertains noble thoughts and feelings.
It is also your responsibility to take care of your daughterin-law and to pay attention to her physical and mental welfare. If you neglect these duties, it will lead to many calamities.
THE STORY OF A DAUGHTER-IN-LAW
A certain family lived in a city. The Seth had only one son. The son was a man of excellent character and culture. He performed the marriage of his son with a worthy girl. After the marriage within a year, the son died. He died a premature death. The sorrow of his parents and his wife knew no bounds but they had to endure the sorrow. There was no other way. As time passed, their sorrow also gradually abated. When the Seth and his wife recovered their mental poise, they thought of their daughter-in-law. She was young. She became a widow at a young age. She had to face and experience the anguish of being a widow at a young age. The Seth and his wife treated her with great affection. They loved her as they loved their son. They provided her with all comforts and took care of her with affection. The mother-in-law never allowed her daughter-inlaw to do any domestic work. When the daughter-in-law offered to do any work, the woman said to her, "Dear child, you need not do any work. I will do everything. Moreover, there are
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