युधिष्ठिर उवाच सत्स्त्रीणां समुदाचारं सर्वधर्मविदां वर। श्रोतुमिच्छाम्यहं त्वत्तस्तन्मे ब्रूहि पितामह॥

Yudhishthira said O you who know all duties, I wish to hcar in full, what forms the excellent conduct of good and chaste women. Do you, O grandfather, describe this to me.!

Anushasana Parva 123.1

भीष्म उवाच सर्वज्ञां सर्वतत्त्वज्ञां देवलोके मनस्विनीम्। कैकेयी सुमना नाम शाण्डिली पर्यपृच्छत॥ केन वृत्तेन कल्याणि समाचारेण केन वा। विधूय सर्वपापानि देवलोकं त्वमागता॥ हुताशनशिखेव त्वं ज्वलमाना स्वतेजसा। सुता ताराधिपस्येव प्रभया दिवमागता॥

Bhishma said Once on a time in the celestial region, a lady named Sumana of Kaikeya's race, addressing Shandili, gifted with great energy and conversant with the truth regarding everything and gifted with omniscience, said, By what conduct, O auspicious lady, by what course of deeds have you succeeded in acquiring the celestial region, purged off of every sin? You shine with your own energy like a flame of fire, You appear to be a daughter of the Lord of stars, come to Heaven in your own effulgence.

Anushasana Parva 123.2

अरजांसि च वस्त्राणि धारयन्ती गलक्लमा। विमानस्था शुभा भासि सहस्रगुणमोजसा॥

You put on dresses of pure white, and as quite cheerful and at your case. Scated on that celestial car, you shine, O auspicious dame, with energy multiplied a thousand fold.

Anushasana Parva 123.3

न त्वमल्पेन तपसा दानेन नियमेन वा। इमं लोकमनुप्राप्ता तवं हि तत्त्वं वदस्व मे॥

You have not, I understand, attained to this region of happiness by great penances and gifts and vows. Do you tell me the truth!

Anushasana Parva 123.4

इति पृष्टा सुमनया मधुरं चारुहासिनी। शाण्डिली निभृतं वाक्यं सुमनामिदमब्रवीत्॥ नाहं कापायवसना नापि वल्कलधारिणी। च जटिला भूत्वा देवत्वमागता॥ अहितानि च वाक्यानि सर्वाणि परुषाणि च। अप्रमत्ता च भर्तारं कदाचिन्नाहमब्रुवम॥

Thus questioned swectly by Sumana, Stiandili of sweet smiles, addressing her fair interrogatrix, thus answered her silently. I did not wear yellow robes; nor barks of trees. I did not shave my head; nor did I keep matted locks on my head. It is not on account of these deeds that I have acquired the status of a celestial. I never carelessly addressed any harsh words to my husband.

Anushasana Parva 123.5

न च मुण्डा देवतानां पितॄणां च ब्राह्मणानां च पूजने। अप्रमत्ता सदा युक्ता श्वश्वशुरवर्तिनी॥

I was always devoted to the adoration of the celestials the departed Manes, and the Brahmanas. Always careful I waited upon and served my motherin law and father-in-law.

Anushasana Parva 123.6

पैशुन्ये न प्रवामि न ममैतन्मनोगतम्। अद्वारि न च तिष्ठामि चिरं न कथयामि च॥

This was my resolution that I should never act deceitfully. I never used of stay at the door of our house nor did I speak long with anybody.

Anushasana Parva 123.7

असद् वा हसितं किंचिदहितं वापि कर्मणा। रहस्यमरहस्यं वा न प्रवामि सर्वथा।॥

I never did any evil deed. I never laughed aloud; I never did any injury; I never gave out any secret. Thus did I myself act.

Anushasana Parva 123.8

कार्यार्थं निर्गतं चापि भार्तारं गृहमागतम्। आसनेनोपसंयोज्य पूजयामि समाहिता॥

When my husband, having left home upon any business, used to return, I always served him by giving him a seat, and adored him with respect.

Anushasana Parva 123.9

यदन्नं नाभिजानाति यद् भोज्यं नाभिनन्दति। भक्ष्यं वा यदि वा लेह्यं तत्सर्वे वर्जयाम्यहम्॥

I never ate food of any kind which was unknown to my husband and with which my husband was not pleased.

Anushasana Parva 123.10

कुटुम्बार्थं समानीतं यत्किञ्चित् कार्यमेव तु। प्रातरुत्थाय तत्सर्वं कारयामि करोमि च॥

Rising early in the morning I did and caused to be done whatever was brought about and required to be done for the sake of relatives and kinsmen.

Anushasana Parva 123.11

प्रवासं यदि मे याति भर्ता कार्येण केनचित्। मङ्गलैर्बहुभिर्यक्ता भवामि नियता तदा॥

When my husband leaves home for going to a distant place on any errand, I remained at home engaged in various kinds of auspicious deeds for blessing his enterprise.

Anushasana Parva 123.12

अञ्जनं रोचनां चैव स्नानं माल्यानुलेपनम्। प्रसाधनं च निष्क्रान्ते नाभिनन्दामि भर्तरि॥

During the absence of my husband I never use collyrium or ornaments; I never wash myself properly or use garlands and unguents or adorn my feet with lacdye or body with ornaments.

Anushasana Parva 123.13

नोत्थापयामि भर्तारं सुखसुप्तमहं सदा। आन्तरेष्वपि कार्येषु तेन तुष्यति मे मनः॥

When my husband sleeps in peace I never awake him even if important business wanted his attention. I was happy to sit by him lying asleep.

Anushasana Parva 123.14

नायासयामि भर्तारं कुटुम्बार्थेऽपि सर्वदा। गुप्तगुह्या सदा चास्मि सुसम्मृष्टनिवेशना॥

I never urged my husband to work hard for acquiring riches to support his family and relatives. I always kept secrets without giving them out to others. I used to always keep our premises clean.

Anushasana Parva 123.15

इमं धर्मपथं नारी पालयन्ती समाहिता। अरुन्धतीव नारीणां स्वर्गलोके महीयते॥

That woman who with rapt attention, follows her duty, receives profuse honors in the celestial region like a second Arundhati.

Anushasana Parva 123.16

भीष्म उवाच एतदाख्याय सा देवी सुमनायै तपस्विनी। पतिधर्मे महाभागा जगामादर्शनं तदा॥

Bhishma said The illustrious and highly blessed Shandili, of pious conduct having said these words to Sumana on the subject of woman's duties towards her husband, disappeared there and then.

Anushasana Parva 123.17

यश्चेदं पाण्डवाख्यानं पठेत् पर्वणि पर्वणि। स देवलोकं सम्प्राप्य नन्दने स सुखी वसेत्॥

That man, O son of Pandu, who reads this discourse at every full moon and new moon, succeeds in acquiring the celestial region and enjoying great happiness in the bowers of Nandana.

Anushasana Parva 123.18