“After waiting on him in this manner, as soon as the dishes and the remains of the meal had been removed by the old nurse, she sat down beside him, arranging her scanty patched dress as well as she was able.

“The young brahman having thus satisfied himself of the capabilities of the maiden, made known his real name and position to her parents, and they having gladly accepted him, he married the girl in due form, and took her home to his own house.

“Not very long afterwards, with very little consideration for her, he took to himself another wife, a woman of bad character; yet such was the sweetness of temper of the first, that she showed no anger at this, but continued to treat her husband with all due honour and respect, and so gained over her fellow-wife that she became her dearest friend.  At the same time she managed the household admirably, keeping everything in order, yet making all the servants attached to her.  In short, she acted in such a manner that she entirely gained the respect and affection of her husband, and he enjoyed great happiness, and trusted and consulted her in all affairs.

“Therefore I say that the best thing for a householder is to have a good wife.”

Then, in illustration of the third answer, I related the story of Ratnavati.  “There was, in a town in the country of Surat, a rich ship-captain who had a daughter named Ratnavati.  She was married to Balabhadra, the son of a merchant living in another town.  For some reason he took a sudden dislike to his bride on the very day of the wedding, and though she continued to live in his house, avoided her as much as possible, and would never speak to her, notwithstanding the remonstrances of his friends.  The rest of the family and the servants, seeing this, treated her with neglect and contempt, so that she led a most wretched life.

“One day, wandering about disconsolate, she met with an old woman, a buddhist mendicant, who, seeing her weeping and looking miserable, asked her the reason.  She, thinking that this woman might possibly be possessed of some charm capable of bringing back her husband’s affections, half unwillingly told her the cause of her grief.

“’On the very day of our marriage my husband, from some cause or other, took a sudden dislike to me, and since then he has treated me with neglect and contempt, so that I hardly ever see his face, and then only by chance for a moment, for he avoids me as much as possible; his family also, following his example, behave to me with great unkindness.  I have no comfort or happiness, and only wish for death.  But you must not tell this to any one; I would not on any account have my misfortune talked about.’

“The old woman answered:  ’Surely this must be a punishment for some great sin committed in a former existence, or such a charming person as yourself would never be thus treated by your husband.  I recommend. you to practise penance and prayer; perhaps the gods may be appeased, and a favourable change produced.  Meanwhile, if there is any way in which I can help you, I will gladly do so.  You seem very intelligent; cannot you think of some stratagem which may have the desired effect?’