Anasuya, revered for her wisdom and virtue, gently asked, “Are you content, blessed one, from beholding your husband’s face? And do you regard your husband as superior to all the gods?” She continued, “It is solely through service to my husband that I have gained great merit. By obtaining the fruits of all my desires, every obstacle in my path has been removed.” With warmth, Anasuya shared her understanding of righteous living: “A person should always offer five daily sacrifices and, according to one’s own station and duty, accumulate wealth. When wealth is thus obtained, it must be properly distributed to those who are deserving. One should always be endowed with truthfulness, honesty, austerity, charity, and compassion. Actions prescribed by the scriptures, performed without attachment or aversion, should be done every day with faith and to the best of one’s ability.” She spoke of the cosmic order: “A person attains only those worlds destined by their birth, O virtuous one, and through great effort, reaches the realms that begin with Prajapati, in due order. But women, by serving their husbands, take half the merit of all the virtuous deeds arduously earned by men. For women, there is no separate sacrifice, no ancestral offering, nor fasting; by serving their husbands alone, they attain the desired worlds. Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, keep your mind always intent on serving your husband, for the husband is the highest goal. Whatever worship or honor a husband offers to the gods or ancestors, a devoted wife partakes in half of that simply by serving him.” The son continued the tale: “Hearing those words and honoring Anasuya with due respect, the wife replied, ‘I am blessed, I am favored, and even the gods have looked upon me, for you, naturally auspicious one, have again strengthened my faith. I know this: there is no path for women equal to that of the husband; his affection brings benefit in this world and the next. Through the favor of her husband, both here and after death, a woman attains happiness; for the husband is indeed the deity for a wife. Therefore, O greatly fortunate one, now that you have come to my house, tell me, noble lady, what I should do for you, or what you would have me do.’” Anasuya then spoke: “These gods, along with Indra, have come to me in distress, deprived of their meritorious deeds because of you—both day and night. They continually beg for the uninterrupted course of day and night as before. I have come for that purpose—now listen to my words. Because of the absence of days, all sacrificial rites have ceased, and without these, O ascetic, the gods do not receive nourishment. With the cessation of day, all actions come to an end; from that cessation, due to lack of rain, the world will face destruction. Therefore, if you wish to save the world from calamity, O virtuous one, be gracious—let the sun sustain the worlds as before.” The Brahmani replied, “By Mandavya’s curse, O noble lady, my husband, the lord, was condemned in anger: ‘Without sunrise, you will meet your end.’” Anasuya responded with compassion, “If it pleases you, O blessed one, then at your request I shall restore things as before and give you a new husband. For in every way, O lovely one, I honor the greatness of women, especially the devotion of the faithful wife.” The son narrated, “When she agreed, the ascetic Anasuya invoked the Sun, offering arghya at night on the tenth day. Then the blessed Vivasvat, radiant like a blossoming red lotus, ascended the mountain king with his great orb. Immediately, her husband departed from life; he fell to the ground, and she caught him as he was falling.” Anasuya comforted her, saying, “Do not grieve, O blessed one! Witness my power—by serving your husband, what fruit of austerity have you not gained? I have never seen any man equal to my husband in beauty, character, wisdom, or sweetness of speech. By that truth, may this Brahmin be freed from disease, become youthful again, and live a hundred years with his wife. As I see no deity equal to my husband, by that truth, may this Brahmin regain youth and health. As my constant effort in deed, thought, and word has been to serve my husband, so may this Brahmin live on.” The son described the miracle: “Then the Brahmin rose up, freed from disease, youthful again, illuminating the house with his own radiance, like an immortal child among the gods. Then a shower of flowers fell, divine music resounded, and the gods rejoiced. They spoke to Anasuya, saying, ‘Choose a boon, O blessed one! You have accomplished a great task for the gods; therefore, O ascetic, the gods grant you a boon.’” Anasuya replied, “If the gods, led by the Grandfather, are pleased with me, and if I am worthy to receive a boon and am regarded favorably by you all, then let Brahma, Vishnu, and Maheshvara become my sons, and may I attain yoga together with my husband, for freedom from suffering.” The gods—Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the others—responded, “So be it,” and, honoring the ascetic woman, departed as was proper. Later, the story turned to another scene. The two sons spoke: “That prince, swiftly reaching his own city, bowed at the feet of his parents, longing to see Madalasa. He saw the people anxious, their faces joyless; then again, with astonished expressions, their faces became joyful. He saw another, eyes wide with delight, exclaiming, ‘By fortune! By fortune!’ and embracing another with great excitement.