Page 12 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

freed of attachment and detachment. Neither by such a dispassionate nature one is angered when there is failure, nor
is he elated when there is success. This steadiness of mind keeps the devotee determined and steadfast to continue
on the spiritual path.
Krishna instructs Arjuna by the following, “One is understood to be in full knowledge whose every endeavor is devoid
of desire for sense gratification. He is said by sages to be a worker for whom the reactions of work have been burned
up by the fire of perfect knowledge.” (Bg 4.19) Development of the knowledge of eternal servitorship to the Lord is
compared to fire. Once kindled, this fire can burn up all kinds of reactions to previous work freeing the devotee of all
karmic reactions that would normally hinder him from making spiritual advancement.
Anasuya emphasizes the natural inclination of the male husband to dominate his wife. In the long term, the
submissive wife who staunchly follows the righteous lifestyle and dutifully serves her husband will influence her
husband to also follow the path of dharma or at least respect the devout nature of his wife and her adherence to
spiritual practices.
"Thus devoted to your lord, loyal to your husband, following established rules, you become an honest wife to your
husband and obtain merit and renown." (VR.2.117)

Prabhupada’s sister, Pisima, is the example of an abused woman who succeeded in rectifying her husband’s bad
habits
Srila Prabhupada has related several stories about his dear sister, Pisima, which means the father’s sister or paternal
auntie, to Jayapataka Maharaja and others. Srila Prabhupada indicated that his sister married a man who turned out
to be a rogue, debauchee, woman-hunter, drunkard, and a fish-eater. Pisima asked Prabhupada, “What shall I do?
How can I stop him from leading a sinful life?”
In response, Prabhupada gifted Pisima his personal deities that they both worshipped when they were children. He
advised her to “worship the Radha-Govinda Deities and pray to Them for Their mercy for your husband and They will
help you.” Pisima accepted the Deities and worshipped them reverently with devotion and love. She personally
followed Krishna consciousness by accepting initiation from Prabhupada’s guru, Srila Bhaktisiddanta Saraswati
Maharaja Prabhupada. She never left her husband. Prabhupada commented that Pisima even cooked fish for him just
to keep peace in the family. She never ate fish as she ever ate anything that her Deities would not accept as an
offering.
Pisima prayed fervently to her Radha-Govinda Deities for years, “Please save my husband.” After many years, Pisima’s
husband changed his lifestyle. He became a devotee by the steady influence his submissive wife, who was an elevated
devotee worthy of his upmost respect. Her husband understood by years of observation that his wife was continually
faithful to him and praying for him despite his dalliances while reverently serving her Deities. Her example of pure
devotion eventually melted his hardened heart and prompted him to become a respectful husband.
Another outstanding quality of Pisima was her dedication to cook and serve prasadam (holy food consecrated by
offering to her Deities) to Vaishnavas (Krishna devotees). She was always cooking delicious prasadam for holy men
(sannyasis). She would request the holy men, “What will you eat? Please let me serve you prasadam.” Her special
quality was her ardent desire to cook and offer prasadam to her brother, Srila Prabhupada. Cooking for Krishna and
then offering the prasadam to Krishna’s devotees is a great art that has an alchemical effect of transforming the cook
and all others to whom she offers the prasadam. The sanctified prasadam can turn a bad person into a good person,
and a good person into a pure devotee.
She followed the footsteps of Srimati Radharani, Krishna’s eternal consort. By her pure desire to cook tasty prasadam,
she feed her husband for many years. She tolerated her husband’s bad behavior patiently and gradually by her
submissive service attitude she was able to change his mind to accept her spiritual values.
The Vedic wisdom that suggests a wife be submissive to her husband even if he is of bad character. This is the best
course for keeping the marriage stable. Eventually the wife’s purity will prevail. But it requires tremendous

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