Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.1075

c4.1075

Sukanyā after her marriage engaged herself fully in the service of looking after the welfare of her husband. She gave her husband healthy and tasty fruits and vegetables, bathed him daily in hot water, placed before him all the materials for his pūjā and when the time came for his meals gave him his food sitting by his side. After the meals she gave him tāmbūla and only after putting him on a bed would she go to attend to her own affairs. After finishing her meals she would come again to her husband and sit by his side massaging him. In the evening she would make ready all the things required for the pūjā and after the pūjā feed him with nourishing food. Whatever remained after his feed would be taken by her. At night she would be at the foot of her husband and take a nap. In the morning she would attend to all the details of the ablutions of her husband. Thus Sukanyā lived true to her husband always anxious to please him. Then one day the Aśvinīkumāras saw her going to the āśrama after her bath. They were very much attracted by the stunning beauty of the maiden that they approached her and asked: "Oh, beautiful maiden, who are you? We are Aśvinīkumāras. You seem to be alone. How did you happen to come to this place? You are one who should always move with friends and courtiers and what is the reason for your living like this?" Sukanyā replied, "Revered Devas, I am the daughter of Śaryāti and wife of Cyavana. Forced by certain circum-