मौने मौना भवेद्या तु स्थिते तिष्ठति या स्वयम्
She who remains silent when he is silent, and stands when he stands of her own will,
एकदृष्टिरेकमना भर्त्तुर्वचनकारिणी
Who looks only to him, whose mind is fixed on him alone, who acts according to her husband's word,
देवानामपि सा साध्वी पूज्या परमशोभना
Such a virtuous woman is worthy of worship even by the gods, supremely radiant.
वर्त्तमानापि विप्रेन्द्र प्रत्याख्यातापि वा सदा
Whether she is flourishing or rejected, O foremost of Brahmins, she always remains so.
सा न मृत्युमुखं याति एवं या स्त्री पतिव्रता
Such a devoted wife does not enter the jaws of death.
अनुवेष्टनभावेन भर्त्तारमनुगच्छति 209.
She follows her husband with a devoted attitude.
एष माता पिता बन्धुरेष मे दैवतं परम्
He is my mother, he is my father, he is my relative, he is my supreme deity.
पतिव्रता तु या साध्वी तस्यां चाहं कृताञ्जलिः
To such a virtuous and devoted wife, I offer my reverent salutations.
भर्त्तारमनुशोचन्ती मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
A woman who grieves for her husband does not see the door of death.
न शृणोति न पश्येद्या मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
She who neither hears nor sees another does not see the door of death.
नान्यं या मनसा पश्येन्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
She who does not look upon another with her mind does not see the door of death.
पतिं न त्यजते चित्तान्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
She who does not abandon her husband in her heart does not see the door of death.
गृहं मार्जयते नित्यं मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
She who always keeps the house clean does not see the door of death.
शौचाचारसमायुक्ता सापि मृत्युं न पश्यति
She who is endowed with purity and good conduct does not see death.
वर्त्तते च हिते भर्त्तुर्मृत्युद्वारं न पश्यति
She who acts for her husband's welfare does not see the door of death.
मानुषाणां च भार्या वै तत्र देशे तु दृश्यते 209.
Among human beings, such a wife is indeed seen in that land.
मया तस्मात्तु विप्रर्षे यथावृत्तं यथाश्रुतम्
Therefore, O sage among the twice-born, I have related to you all that happened and all that I have heard.
इति श्रीवराहपुराणे संसारचक्रे पतिव्रतामाहात्म्यंनाम नवाधिकद्विशततमोऽध्यायः
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.
पुनः पतिव्रतामाहात्म्यवर्णनम् रहस्यं धर्ममाख्यानं त्वयोक्तं तु महायशः
Once again, the greatness of the devoted wife is described; you have spoken of the secret and righteous teaching, O illustrious one.
इदं हि सर्वभूतेषु परं कौतूहलं मम
Indeed, among all beings, this is the highest source of curiosity for me.
ये नरा दुःखसन्तप्तास्तपस्तीव्रं समाश्रिताः
Those men who are afflicted by suffering and have taken refuge in intense austerity,
मनसा निश्चितात्मानस्त्यक्त्वा सर्वप्रियाप्रियम्
Having resolved their minds, they abandon all that is dear and not dear.
श्रुता लोके श्रुतिस्तात श्रेयोधर्मा हि नित्यशः
O dear one, the tradition has been heard in the world; indeed, the path of virtue is always superior.
कस्यैतच्चेष्टितं तात कर्त्ता कारयितापि वा
Whose action is this, O dear one? Who is the doer or the instigator?
कं वा द्वेषं पुरस्कृत्य मतिस्तस्य प्रवर्त्तते
By harboring what hatred does his mind act in this way?
यद्येवं तु मया गुह्यं दुर्विज्ञेयं सुरैरपि
If so, then by me a secret, difficult to comprehend even for the gods, is being asked.
नारदेनैवमुक्तस्तु धर्मराजो महामनाः
Thus addressed by Narada, the great-minded king of righteousness,
यम उवाच त्वदुक्त्या मे कथयतः शृणुष्वावहितोऽनघ ।। 210.
Yama spoke: By your words, I shall tell you; listen attentively, O sinless one.
न कश्चिद्दृश्यते लोके कर्त्ता कारयितापि वा
No one is seen in the world as the doer or the instigator.
यस्य वै कीर्त्त्यते नाम येन चाज्ञाप्यते जगत्
Whose name is praised, by whom the world is commanded,