Markandeyapurana 71.7

71.7

ṛṣiruvāca
jñātametanmayā pūrvaṃ yat kṛtante narādhipa /
kāryamāgamane caiva matsamīpe tavākhilam //

The ṛṣi spoke:
I knew this before, which thou hast done, O king, and the whole of thy business in coming back to me. Ask me here “what must I do?” with anxious mind; and since thou art come, O king, hear what thou must do. A wife is a potent cause of righteousness, wealth and love among men; and in particular one who forsakes her has in sooth abandoned righteousness. A wifeless man, O king, is not fit for his own works, be he brāhman or kṣatriya, vaiśya or even śūdra, O king. No brilliant deed didst thou do, Sir, when thou didst abandon thy wife; for as women must not forsake a husband, so men must not forsake a wife.