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se e h sba . The most important duties accord-
ing to Shastr s are to serve her husband and to be
faithful to him. According to Shankha the benefits a
wife will derive by serving her husband in a proper
manner will always exceed the benefits derived from
performing yajnas, observing fasts and giving alms,
etc. Sita's example shows that there is no greater
devotion for a wife than serving her husband.
Draupadi revealed to Satyabhama the secret of her
influence over Yudhisthir. She said, "I have always
been obedient to him without showing any pride, and
I always considered his views. I have always tried to
avoid displeasing him either in speech or my demeanour.
I have seen to his needs first even in such matters as
bathing, eating and resting. I do not eat the things
he dislikes. In serving him, the day and night
becomes one to me. I wake up in the morning long
before him and in the night I go tcl bed after him."
In the traditional Aryan family Sita has set the
greatest example of a wife's duty towards her husband.
When it was ordered that Rama should go to the forest
and live in exile for fourteen years he was not in favour
of the weak and tender Sita accompanying him and
being exposed to the hard life of the jungle. But
contrary to Rama's wish, she was prepared to face
the greatest hardships and obstacles of the jungle. She
said, "0 Raghava, if you have decided to go to the
forest, I shall lead the path, tramping on the thorns
and the sharp
kusha
grass. Instead of high seats and
positions and flying in aerial cars, it is better to be at
the feet of one's husband and to serve him in all his
difficulties. Even if I have to be given heaven, I shall
never be happy there without you." Then Rama triedto
bring to her notice the presence of dangerous animals
in the jungle, such as lions, tiger, and wild elephants:
there were also venomous reptiles. But Sita replied,