Siddhamuni continued the narrative to Namdharak.
The woman, calmed a little now, requested 'the Tapasvi' to tell her about the duties of a woman in family life and also her duties after she is widowed. She wanted him to give her guidance and enlighten her on StreeDharma and Achar (the duties of conduct for women). Thereupon, 'the Tapasvi' narrated the following.
Once there lived in the city of Kashi, the great Agastya Rishi. His wife's name was Lopamudra. She was like Anasuya in her chastity and was the most ideal wife. Agastya was renowned for his austerities and for his spiritual knowledge, wisdom and prowess.
Once Narada Rishi paid a visit to the mountain king Vindhyachal. Narada Rishi praised Vindhyachal for his great qualities.
He, however, added that the Meru mountain (the king of the Himalayan range) though inferior to the Vindya in it's grandeur, yet because of it's height, it ranked as superior and is called the Sovereign of mountains, and but for his shorter stature, he (the Vindhya) would have been really the Sovereign of mountains. Vindhyachal took it to heart, and then started growing taller and taller, almost touching the skies like the Meru Mountain. The result of this was that the sunlight was not reaching the southern region, plunging it into darkness. People were not able to perform their Nitya-Vidhis (daily rituals and oblations to the Deities) and thereby Indra and other Gods were deprived of the daily offerings which people have to make. The Gods, therefore, along with Rishis approached Brahma Deva and prayed to him to find a remedy for this. If Nity-Vidhis are not performed, it will disturb the harmony in the cosmos and evil will befall the people and the world. Brahma Deva advised them to go to Agasthya Rishi and request him to do something in the matter, as Vindhyachal was disciple of Agasthya Rishi and was greatly devoted to him.
Indra and the Rishis came to Agasthya Ashram at Kashi. They explained to him the plight of the southern regions as the sun had been blocked by the Vindhyachal as a result of his growth, which reached the very heights in the sky. Agasthya agreed to help them in the matter.
Agasthya went to Vindhyachal. Seeing his guru (Master) Vindhyachal bent down to offer his obeisance to the Guru. Agasthya said that he was going on a pilgrimage to some of the holy places in the southern region, and he (Vindhyachal) should remain in the same inclined (bowing) position till he returned. Vindhyachal said he would be happy to do whatever command his guru would give him. Agasthya crossed over to the south, thereby opening the blocked way for the Sun. Agasthya saved the Gods thus and also restored the well being and prosperity of the southern region and its people.
Agasthya wife was an example for all women. All the Gods and even Brihaspati acclaimed Lopamudra as peerless and as an ideal for woman for all times. Now 'the Tapasvi' recounted to Savitri what Brihaspati said to the Rishis, describing the duties of the family women, taking example of Lopamudra. He said that for a woman the husband himself is God. Service to him should take all priority and precedence in the woman's duties. The husband should be considered and worshipped as God himself. Husband's pada-teertha (the wash-water of the feet of the husband) is even more sacred for a woman than Vishnu-Teertha. She should never disobey him, and should faithfully and respectfully obey all his commands whatever they be. All the household duties will have to be faithfully discharged, and all Sastraic injunctions, like Athithi Puja, etc., are to be done by the wife, to bring good name to her husband. She should respect and serve her husband's parents as her own parents. Even if the husband is afflicted with disease, or whatever difficulties befall him, she should share the sufferings and serve him with all love and dedication.
'The Tapasvi' then said that when the woman loses her husband, there are Sastraic injunctions as to the disciples of life she should strictly observe. She should realise that with her husband's loss, she should take to many austere disciplines.
Thus ends the Thirty First Chapter of Sri Guru Charitra describing "Pativrata Nirupan". Glory to the All merciful, the Omnipresent and the ever responsive Guru Nath!
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