“O great king,” she pleaded, “let there be safety for me and for the women, O giver of honor.” Her words were spoken with hope, and the king, hearing the plea of his beloved, was gladdened in heart. She, filled with supreme affection and dearly cherished by the king, felt joy blossom within her. In her devotion, she offered two sandals, both meant for the feet of Shankara, as a mark of reverence. Thus, I honor and bow to the devoted wife, O Brahmin. So concludes the two hundred and eighth chapter of the glorious Varaha Purana, known as ‘The Story of the Devoted Wife’ in the cycle of worldly existence. Now begins the description of the greatness of the devoted wife. “By what action, O king of kings, or by what austerity, O ascetics, is such greatness attained?” was the question posed. In response, the righteous one spoke to Narada: “For the devoted wife, O Brahmin, there is no prescribed rule, nor austerity, nor any strict vow. Neither fasting, nor giving gifts, nor even worship of the gods, O great sage, are required for her. She who sleeps when her husband sleeps and wakes of her own accord when he awakes; she who remains silent when he is silent and stands when he stands, moved by her own will; she who looks only to him, whose mind is fixed solely upon him, who acts according to her husband’s word—such a virtuous woman is supremely radiant and worthy of worship even by the gods. Whether she is cherished or neglected, O foremost of Brahmins, she remains steadfast in her virtue. Such a devoted wife does not enter the jaws of death. She follows her husband with unwavering devotion, seeing in him her mother, her father, her relative, her supreme deity. To such a virtuous and devoted wife, I offer my reverent salutations. A woman who grieves for her husband does not see the door of death. She who neither hears nor sees another man does not see the door of death. She who does not allow her mind to dwell on another, nor abandons her husband in her heart, does not see the door of death. She who always keeps the house clean, who is endowed with purity and good conduct, who acts for her husband’s welfare—such a one does not see the door of death. Among human beings, such a wife is indeed seen in that land. Therefore, O sage among the twice-born, I have related to you all that has happened and all that I have heard.” Thus ends the two hundred and ninth chapter, called ‘The Greatness of the Devoted Wife,’ in the cycle of worldly existence, in the glorious Varaha Purana. Once again, the greatness of the devoted wife is described. “You have spoken of this secret and righteous teaching, O illustrious one,” the listener said. “Indeed, among all beings, this is the highest source of curiosity for me. Those men who are afflicted by suffering and have taken refuge in intense austerity, having resolved their minds, abandon all that is dear and not dear. O dear one, the tradition has been heard in the world; indeed, the path of virtue is always superior. Whose action is this, O dear one? Who is the doer or the instigator? By harboring what hatred does the mind act in this way? If so, then I ask you a secret, difficult to comprehend even for the gods.” Thus addressed by Narada, the great-minded king of righteousness, Yama, spoke: “By your words, I shall tell you; listen attentively, O sinless one. No one is seen in the world as the doer or the instigator.