The Kama Sutra
Part IV: About a Wife
Chapter I - On the Manner of Living of a Virtuous Woman....
A VIRTUOUS woman, who has affection for her husband, should act in conformity with his wishes as if he were a divine being,
and with his consent should take upon herself the whole care of his family. She should keep the whole house well cleaned,
and arrange flowers of various kinds in different parts of it, and make the floor smooth and polished so as to
give the whole a neat and becoming appearance. She should surround the house with a garden,
and place ready in it all the materials required for the morning, noon and evening sacrifices.
Moreover she should herself revere the sanctuary of the Household Gods, for, says Gonardiya,
'nothing so much attracts the heart of a householder to his wife as a careful observance of the things mentioned above'.
Towards the parents, relations, friends, sisters, and servants of her husband she should behave as they deserve.
In the garden she should plant beds of green vegetables....Clusters of various flowers such as...jasmine,...china rose and others,
should likewise be planted....She should also have seats and arbours made in the garden,
in the middle of which a well, tank, or pool should be dug.
....As regards meals she should always consider what her husband likes and dislikes and what things are good for him,
and what are injurious to him....When going anywhere with her husband, she should put on her ornaments....
When the wife wants to approach her husband in private her dress should consist of many ornaments,
various kinds of flowers, and a cloth decorated with different colours, and some sweet-smelling ointments or unguents.
But her everyday dress should be composed of a thin, close-textured cloth, a few ornaments and flowers,
and a little scent, not too much....
Thus ends the manner of living of a virtuous woman.
....
There are also some verses on the subject as follows:
'The wife, whether she be a woman of noble family, or a virgin widow remarried, or a concubine, should lead a chaste life,
devoted to her husband, and doing everything for his welfare.
Women acting thus acquire Dharma, Artha, and Kama, obtain a high position,
and generally keep their husbands devoted to them.'
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