and who is always devoted to her father and mother, is regarded as possessed of ascetic wealth.  That woman who supports with food Brahmanas that are weak and helpless, that are distressed or blind or destitute, comes to be regarded as entitled to share the merit of her husband.  That woman who always observes, with a light heart vows that are difficult of observance, whose heart is devoted to her lord, and who always seeks good of her lord, is regarded as entitled to share the merits of her husband.  Devotion to her lord is woman’s merit; it is her penance; it is her eternal Heaven.  Merit, penances, and Heaven become hers who looks upon her husband as her all in all, and who, endued with chastity, seeks to devote herself to her lord in all things.  The husband is the god which women have.  The husband is their friend, The husband is their high refuge.  Women have no refuge that can compare with their husbands, and no god that can compare with him.  The husband’s grace and Heaven, are equal in the estimation of a woman; or, if unequal, the inequality is very trivial.  O Maheswara, I do not desire Heaven itself if thou are not satisfied with me.  If the husband that is poor, or diseased or distressed or fallen among foes, or afflicted by a Brahmana’s curse, were to command the wife to accomplish anything that is improper or unrighteous or that may lead to destruction of life itself, the wife should, without any hesitation, accomplish it, guided by the code whose propriety is sanctioned by the law of Distress.  I have thus, O god, expounded, at thy command, what the duties of women are, Verily, that woman who conducts herself in this way becomes entitled to a share of the merits won by her husband,’

“Narada continued, ’Thus addressed, the great god applauded the daughter of the prince of mountains and then dismissed all persons that had assembled there, together with all his own attendants.  The diverse tribes of ghostly beings, as also all the embodied Rivers, and the Gandharvas and Apsaras, all bowed their heads unto Mahadeva and departed for returning to the places whence they had come.”

SECTION CXLVII

“The Rishis said, ’O wielder of Pinaka, O tearer of the eyes of Bhaga, O thou that art worshipped by all the universe, we desire to hear the glory of Vasudeva.’

“Maheswara said, ’Hari is superior to the Grandsire himself.  He is the Eternal Purusha.  Otherwise called Krishna, he is endued with the splendour of gold, and shines with effulgence like a second sun.  Possessed of ten arms, he is endued with great energy, and is the slayer of the foes of the gods.  Having a whorl on his breast, he has curly locks of hair on his head.  He is worshipped by all the deities.  Brahman has risen from his abdomen.  I have sprung from his head, All the luminaries in the firmament have sprung from his hair.  From the bristles on his body have sprung all the gods and Asuras.