Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies - DUBOIS, Abbé Hindu Manners, Customs and Ceremonies, Dubois | Page 389

BLESSINGS ASSURED TO A GOOD WIFE
349
While her husband is absent, she shall sleep with one of
her female relatives, and not alone. She shall make con-
stant inquiries after the health of her husband.
She shall
send constant messages to him to return as soon as possible,
and shall offer up prayers to the gods for him.
Let all her words and actions give public proof that she
looks upon her husband as her god.
Honoured by every-
body, she shall thus enjoy the reputation of a faithful and
virtuous spouse.
If, in the event of her husband dying, she resolves to
die with him, glorious and happy will she be in the world
to which her husband will lead her after his death.
But
whether she dies before or with her husband, or whether
she survives him, a virtuous wife may rest assured that all
sorts of blessings will await her in the other world.
A wife can enjoy no true happiness unless she attains
it through her husband
it is he who gives her children
it is he who provides her with clothes and jewels
it is he
who supplies her with flowers, sandalwood, saffron, and all
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good
things.
through his wife that a husband enjoys the
pleasures of this world
that is a maxim taught in all our
learned books. It is through his wife that he does good
works, that he acquires riches and honour, and that he
succeeds in his enterprises. A man without a wife is an
imperfect being.'
These rules of conduct may seem extremely severe, yet
they are faithfully observed, especially among the Brah-
mins.
Among certain sects of the Vishnavite Brahmins a
peculiar custom exists.
A daughter-in-law is never allowed
to speak to her mother-in-law.
When she wishes to com-
municate anything to her, she does it by signs and when
the mother-in-law gives orders to the daughter-in-law, the
latter answers by an inclination of the head, thereby in-
dicating that she has understood the orders given her.
She, however, at times manages to make up for this en-
forced silence by having recourse to spirited and expressive
gestures
so much so, that her dumb repartees often cause
her mother-in-law to boil with rage.
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It is also
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