906 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 3, Ch. 23

like a blind woman, otherwise she would be proud of her eyes, and her
husband would be seen as inferior. The word samanuurata indicates that it
is the duty of a wife to adopt the special circumstances in which the
husband is situated. Of course, if the husband is as great as Kardama Muni,
then a very good result accrues from following him. But even if the
husband is not a great devotee like Kardama Muni, it is the wife’s duty to
adapt herself according to his mentality. That makes married life very
happy. It is also mentioned herein that by following the strict vows of a
chaste woman, Princess Devahuti became very skinny, and therefore her
husband became compassionate. He knew that she was the daughter of a
great king and yet was serving him just like an ordinary woman. She was
reduced in health by such activities, and he became compassionate and
addressed her as follows.

TEXT 6
FGA TT
AISA TT AAT AAaeM:
DATA THA TWAT TAFT |
a afearraada aera 2A
mafera: agra: afte ae & 1

kardama uvaca
tusto "ham adya tava manavi manadayah
Susriisaya paramaya paraya ca bhaktya
yo dehinam ayam ativa suhyt sa deho
naveksitah samucitah ksapitum mad-arthe

kardamah uvaca—the great sage Kardama said; tustah—pleased; aham—1
am; adya—today; tava—with you; manavi—O daughter of Manu; mana-
dayah—who are respectful; susriigaya—by the service; paramaya—most
excellent; paraya—highest; ca—and; bhaktya—by the devotion; yah—that
which; dehinam—to the embodied; ayam-—this; ativa—extremely; suhrt—
dear; sah —that; dehah—body; na—not; aveksitah—taken care of; samucitah—
properly ; ksapitum—to expend; mat-arthe—on my account.

TRANSLATION

Kardama Muni said: O respectful daughter of Svayambhuva Manu, today
Iam very much pleased with you for your great devotion and most excellent
