Koushika Confronted by the Faithful Housewife

Koushika wandered through the village, entering the pure households one by one. He finally came to a house he had visited before. He stood at the door and said, "Please give." The lady of the house replied, "Wait." She was cleaning the vessel she would use to give him alms when her husband suddenly returned home, extremely hungry. On seeing him, the devoted lady set aside everything. She neglected the brahmana standing at her door. She gave her husband water to wash his feet and his mouth. She brought him a seat. She served him tasty food and spoke sweetly to him. She always ate the food left over by her husband. She followed his thoughts in everything. In deeds, in thoughts, in every way, she never acted contrary to him. Her sentiments were always devoted to serving him. She was faithful, pure, skilled. She strove for the welfare of the household. She attended to the gods, to guests, to servants, to her father-in-law and mother-in-law. She was always in control of her senses. While she was tending to her husband, she noticed that the brahmana was still standing there, waiting for alms. She was ashamed. She emerged to give him the alms. Koushika said, "What is the meaning of this? You asked me to wait. You requested me to wait — and then you did not attend to me first." The brahmana was burning in anger, flaming in his energy. The housewife saw it. She pacified him and spoke. "O brahmana, please pardon me. My husband is my greatest god. He had returned hungry and exhausted, and I served him first." Koushika was not satisfied. "Brahmanas are not superior, and you make your husband superior? Though you follow the dharma of householders, you are insulting a brahmana. Even Indra bows down to such a one — not to speak of men on earth. Do you not know? Have you not heard from the elders? Like a fire, a brahmana can burn down the entire earth." The housewife did not retreat. "I am not insulting brahmanas," she said. "They are powerful and are the equals of the gods. O brahmana, please pardon my transgression. I know the energy of wise brahmanas. Through their anger, they made the waters of the ocean salty and undrinkable. I know of sages who are blazing ascetics — the fire of their anger has still not been pacified in Dandaka. Because he oppressed brahmanas, the evil asura Vatapi was digested by the rishi Agastya. I have heard a lot about the influence of those who know the brahman. Their anger is extremely great. But so are their favours. "O brahmana, you should pardon this transgression of mine. But the dharma that I must serve my husband — that is a pleasant one for me. Among all the gods, my husband is the supreme god. I must particularly serve that dharma. "O brahmana, observe the fruits of my serving my husband. It is known to me that you burnt down a crane through your anger." Koushika said nothing. "O supreme among brahmanas," she continued, "anger is the enemy that resides in the bodies of men. The gods know him to be a brahmana who has discarded the delusion of anger — who speaks the truth and satisfies his preceptor. The gods know him to be a brahmana who does not harm even when he has been harmed. The gods know him to be a brahmana who is in control of his senses, devoted to dharma, always engaged in studying, pure, in control of desire and anger. He who looks upon the world as his own self — intelligent, learned in dharma — the gods know him to be a brahmana. "What ensures the welfare of brahmanas has been recounted: always speaking the truth, and mentally not rejoicing in falsehood. The eternal wealth of brahmanas is in studying, control of passions, and restraint of the senses. Those who know dharma say that truth and uprightness are the supreme dharma. "O supreme among brahmanas, it is evident that dharma can be seen in many ways and that it is subtle. You are learned in dharma. You are devoted to studying. You are pure. But in my view, you do not know the true meaning of dharma. "There is a hunter who lives in Mithila. He serves his father and his mother. He is truthful and in control of his senses. He will tell you about dharma. O fortunate one, if you desire, go there. O unblemished one, please pardon everything I may have spoken in excess. All who are learned in dharma say that women must not be injured." Koushika's anger had gone. "O fortunate one," he said. "O beautiful one. I am pleased with you. The reprimands you have uttered have been extremely beneficial for me. May you live in peace. I am leaving to improve myself."