Page 9 - Powerful Feminine Qualities

part and parcel of the Supreme Lord. Then one recognizes the Supreme Lord as the ultimate goal of love and
surrenders unto Him.
Krishna accepted the sincere service of the wives. Then he requested that they return to their husbands and engage in
the sacrificial activities because without the help of their wives the husbands cannot execute their prescribed duties
properly. The wives insisted that they wanted to stay with Krishna always. Nevertheless, Krishna reassured them that
their husbands would not neglect them if they returned. A pure devotee of the Lord is never inimical to anyone nor
can any sane person be an enemy of a pure devotee. After being instructed by the Lord, the wives returned to their
husbands to assist them.
When the brahmanas’ wives returned, their husbands began to regret their callous behavior towards Balarama and
Krishna. They understood their mistake of refusing prasadam to Krishna. They were so involved in the technicalities of
their Vedic rituals that they neglected the Supreme Personality of Godhead. A new appreciation of the purity and
spiritual dedication of their wives for Krishna dawned on them. Although not well-educated, their wives nevertheless
were devotedly attached to serve the Lord on a moment’s notice. The brahmanas realized their wives were much
more spiritually advanced than they were. The brahmanas repented their sinful nature and their strict adherence to
ritual without understanding the real purpose of all sacrifice being the satisfaction of Lord Krishna. They wanted to go
see Krishna, but they were afraid of what Kamsa would do to them if he was informed. It is not possible to fully
surrender to the Lord unless one is purified by devotional service. The wives were purified by constant thought and
service to Krishna. Thus they were not afraid of Kamsa or any other opposition to serving the Lord. They did not
hesitate to serve the Lord’s request. Their husbands repented and recognized the supremacy of Krishna, but because
they were attached to self-interested activities and they were afraid of Kamsa, they refrained from seeing Krishna.
When women are pure and simple in their resolve to serve Krishna in devotion, they easily surpass all others who may
be much better educated, more austere, and expert in ritual performance, etc. Men and women who are pure
devotees rise from the lower sva-dharma to the transcendental level of Krishna consciousness. Although the wives
returned to their husbands and assisted in the ritual performances as a matter of duty, they were still transcendentally
situated because they were always meditating on pleasing Krishna by following His instructions.

Precious instructions given to Sitadevi by Mother Anasuya, the wife of Atri Muni
In the Ayodhya Kanda, chapter 117 of the great epic Ramayana, Lord Rama suggested to His wife Sitadevi to
seek instructions about the duties of a wife (Stri dharma) from the very elderly Anasuya, who was free from anger. Sita
listened to Her husband’s advice because She realized it was for Her own good as Rama was interested in Her welfare.
Sita, with a calm and serene mind, approached the saintly Anasuya with utmost reverence by circumambulating her
and offering her homage because Anasuya was a devoted and virtuous wife herself. Sita followed the Vedic wisdom:
tad vijnanatham sa gurum evabhigacchet
samit-panih shrotriyam brahma-nishtham
“To understand these things (spiritual principles) properly, one must humbly approach, with firewood in hand (with all
humility and submissiveness), a spiritual master who is learned in the Vedas and firmly devoted to the Absolute
Truth.” (Munḍaka Up.1.2.12)
Sita introduced herself to the wizened Anasuya, who comforted her with kind words:
"Luckily enough, you are attending to righteousness. O, Sita the beautiful lady! Thank heaven! Leaving your relatives,
honor and prosperity, you are accompanying Rama, who is exiled into a forest. Highly fortunate worlds await those
women to whom their husband is dear no matter whether he lives in a city or in a forest; whether he is sinful or
virtuous. To women of noble nature, the husband is the highest deity no matter whether he is ill-behaved or licentious
or devoid of riches." (VR 2.117)
Anasuya’s words seem incredulous to modern women who deem such submissiveness as being an invitation to being
abused and exploited by an unworthy husband. Rama was not an abusive husband. He was the Supreme Personality of
Godhead appearing ostensibly as a human being. The Lord held loving pastimes with His devotees such as Hanuman,

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