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in this way, we decided to move so that she may come, so that she would not feel uncomfortable by having to walk
between two men. She is a sweeper, not a very respectable woman. She is a maidservant. However, on the account of
her shyness, we had to welcome her. Yes, we are moving, you can come in.”
“Just see! This is psychology. Therefore, Bhismadeva at his dying stage, he advised that women’s shyness is the valve
to control society and relationships in a woman’s life. If shyness is broken, it would create disaster. Pumshcali. This is
the psychology. Therefore, things are changing nowadays everywhere. Not only in India, but in other countries also.
This is the psychology. So all these examples are given. Why just to control the mind?” (Prabhupada lecture, Vrindavan
on November 26th, 1976)
I had a personal experience also. I once owned company in France with 120 employees. At least 80 of them were
Tamilians from Sri Lanka who were refugees. One Tamilian gentleman was my factory manager. He was able to obtain
a visa for his wife to come from Sri Lanka to join him. The factory where this Sri Lankan man worked was 150 miles
south of Paris. He did not have a car so he called me and requested, “Prabhuji, this is the first time my wife is coming.
She does not speak French. She does not know anything. In addition, I do not have a car. Can you pick her up from the
airport, and bring her to the factory?” I said, “Sure! No problem!” Therefore, I went to the Charles de Gaulle airport
near Paris to meet her.
She arrived from Sri Lanka and went through immigration and customs. When she came out with her luggage, she was
wearing an Indian sari and her hair was covered. I went up to her and asked, “Is your husband so-and-so?” She said,
“Yes, where is he?” I replied, “He can’t come, but he asked me to pick you up. I will take you to him.”
She looked at me and said, “I cannot go with you. I’m not going until my husband comes.” She refused to come. I had
to call her husband, and arrange for him to be driven 150 miles to the Paris airport. I had to wait. She refused to move.
She just sat down, and waited. Then, he finally came. Only then did she agree to go back with him.
A similar thing happened in the Ramayana. Hanuman found Sita Devi in the Ashoka garden. He gave Her the signet
ring that Lord Rama entrusted to him to convince Her that he was a sincere servant of Lord Rama. Hanuman said,
“Mother, you just sit on my back. I’ll take you to Rama.” She said, “No, I cannot do that. You tell Rama He has to come
and get me.”
Therefore, this is not some strange thing. It is in the culture. My worker’s wife would sit next to me, a stranger, in my
car for 150 miles, although I was going to take her to see her husband. Similarly, Sitadevi refused to sit on the back of
Hanuman and go to Rama, even though Hanuman promised Her immediate liberation from Ravana.
The basis of such behavior is chastity and shyness. This is a very fundamental principle of Vedic culture. Women should
adhere to shyness. In Hindi, there is a proverb that one should always protect his money and wife. Women should
always be under the protection of their father, husband, elder son, or family members. At no time are they completely
independent. Yet, they should not be treated like a slave or a prisoner. Utmost respect and care should be accorded
women at all times and circumstances.

Highly educated Vedic women
Kuntidevi, the mother of the Pandavas, was a highly educated woman. There is an entire chapter in the Srimad
Bhagavatam dedicated to her profound prayers glorifying Lord Krishna. Similarly, Sita was highly educated in all the
arts and culture of pure devotional service to Lord Rama. Would you say Radharani and the Gopis are educated? Yes!
Because they were educated in the arts of home science. If you look at the life of Gopis or cowherd girls, you will
understand that they knew all about milking cows, and making all kinds of nice preparations with milk and grains. All
the Gopis, especially Radharani, were expert in the sixty-four art for expressing love for Krishna. (See footnote #1)
The Gopis’ husbands grew the grains and took care of the cows. They lived happy, healthy lives, full of joy and love for
Lord Krishna. They knew how to use their artistic métier to perform their household duties to keep their husbands
happy and educate their children. Indeed, they were great teachers. This has been the way of life for thousands of
years in traditional India.

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