[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Purāṇas](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana) › [Markandeyapurana](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya) › 71.7 # Markandeyapurana 71.7 Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa 71.7 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [71.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.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. > — Frederick Eden Pargiter 1888, The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa - [Previous: 71.6](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.71.6) - [Next: 71.8](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.71.8) - [Up: 71](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.71) ## Translations (2) - [The Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya~en-pargiter.71.p4) — Frederick Eden Pargiter 1888, English - [English (machine translation)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya~en-mt.71.7) — English, machine translation --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.71.7](https://indike.org/pramana/in.purana.markandeya.71.7) · Pramāṇa