covetousness and folly. The virtuous and illustrious Dirghatama possessing complete mastery over the Vedas, soon after learnt from Suravi's son the practices of their order and fearlessly betook to those practices regarding them with reverence. (For shame is the creature of sin and can never be where there is purity of intention.) Then those best of Munis that dwelt in the same asylum, beholding him transgressing the limits of propriety, became indignant, seeing sin where sin was not. And they said,—Oh, this man transgresseth the limits of propriety. No longer doth he deserve a place amongst us. Therefore shall we all cast off this sinful wretch. And they said many other things regarding the Muni Dirghatama. And his wife too, having obtained children, became indignant with him.
"'The husband then, addressing his wife Pradweshi, said,—Why is it that thou also hast been dissatisfied with me?—His wife answered,—The husband is called the Varta because he supporteth the wife. He is called Pati because he protecteth her. But thou art neither to me! O thou of great ascetic merit, on the other hand, as thou hast been blind from birth, I it is who have supported thee and thy children. I shall not do so in future.—
"'Hearing these words of his wife, the Rishi became indignant and said unto his wife with her children,—Take me unto the Kshatrias and thou shalt then be rich?—His wife replied by saying,—I desire not wealth that may be procured by thee, for that can never bring me happiness! O thou best of Brahmanas, do as thou likest. I shall not be able to maintain thee as before.—At these words of his wife, Dirghatama said,—I establish from this day the rule that every woman shall have to adhere to one husband for her life. If the husband be dead or alive, it shall not be lawful for a woman to have connection with another. And she who may have such connection shall certainly be regarded as fallen. A woman without husband shall always be liable to be sinful. And even if she hath wealth she shall not be able to enjoy it truly. Calumny and evil report shall ever follow in her wake.—Hearing these words of her husband, Pradweshi became very
