Page 40 - HIRS - Eng
P. 40

6                           How I AcHIeved ReAl SucceSS

             they are weak. So they require protection. And until she
             reaches youthhood, she is protected by the father. As soon
             as she reaches youthhood, she is given to a young man,
             her husband, to give protection. And in old age, she is
             protected by the elderly sons. This is the Vedic culture. 1

          On the one hand, activists of the women’s liberation movement
          claim that women are as strong as men and as capable of living
          independently, but on the other hand they are constantly
          petitioning for laws that give them protection. They rightly
          expect that women should be given protection, but instead
          of strengthening the family unit, they are expecting the state
          to step in and be the provider.

          Śrīla  Prabhupāda  explains  that  Vedic  culture  advocates
          protection of women, and this was lovingly done by family
          members, just as one would be careful to protect something
          that is very precious and dear to them.

             Actually the woman must always be protected by her
             husband. We always speak of the goddess of fortune as
             being placed on the chest of Nārāyaṇa. In other words,
             the wife must remain embraced by her husband. Thus she
             becomes beloved and well protected. Just as one saves his
             money and places it under his own personal protection,
             one should similarly protect his wife by his own personal
             supervision. Just as intelligence is always within the
             heart, so a beloved chaste wife should always have her
             place on the chest of a good husband. This is the proper
             relationship between husband and wife. A wife is therefore
             called ardhāṅganī, or half of the body. One cannot remain

          1. Lecture by Śrīla Prabhupāda, November 30, 1973.
   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45