Page 93 - Defending Prabhupada Words - By Harivlas Das

blind, she decided to tie a blindfold around her eyes so
that she would always remain blind. She did not want to
feel superior to her husband and thereby fancy herself
more qualified than him. She was a highly accomplished
yogini having mastered significant mystical powers. Yet,
she kept the blindfold on during her entire married life
so that she could follow her husband faithfully without
false pride.

It is the duty of the wife to follow and assist her husband.
If he is a good devotee then auspicious things occur for
the happy couple. Even if the husband leaves much to be
desired by his behavior, it is the wife’s duty to adapt herself
to her husband’s circumstances and remain faithful and
helpful. This may be very difficult, but it is better to suffer
than to protest to save a marriage from divorce and the
negative effects on the children.
There was a chaste and faithful wife in Vedic history
named Silavati devi. Her husband was a Brahmana who
had leprosy. His limbs were seriously disfigured so much
so that she cared for him as an invalid and carried him
where he needed to go. She would go door to door begging
in the houses of brahmanas to feed and maintain her
husband. She continued her begging while she carried his
disfigured body in a basket. Once while returning home,
Silavati passed by a huge mansion. Waste water was flowing
out of the gate of the mansion. Silavati purposely avoided
stepping in the water by making a long detour to avoid it.
Ugrasravas, her husband, asked why she made such a long
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