I usually avoid t.v, but on the rare occasions that I do watch it, I never fail to catch precious gems like this one:
A participant on Star Vivah is asked what kind of wife is he looking for. His answer:
Karyeshu mantri,
Karuneshu dasi,
Roopeshu Lakshmi,
Kshameshu dharitri,
Sneheshu matha,
Shayaneshu Rambha,
Shatkarma nari,
Kuladharma pathni.
Translation: (forgive/correct me if I am wrong)
Someone who can advise you like a minister (counselor),
Who can work like a slave (house-work like a maid),
Who looks like a Goddess,
Who can forgive like Mother Earth,
Who can love like a mother,
Who can make love (or seduce?) like Rambha,
Who has done nice karmas
can be the Dharma-patni (ideal wife?)
Wow!! Thats definitely an impressive list! Do all men look for such qualities in their wives? And what if there is a small ‘defect’? Are such girls rejected/thrown out once their ‘incapability’ is discovered? And most importantly, is it relevant in present times?
Does it mean:
Only a woman is supposed to do work at home (even if she goes to office)?
To be married, you have to look good – not so ‘beautiful’ girls are not entitled to get married?
A woman is supposed to forgive her man despite the nature of his crime? If he takes another woman, she should just overlook it and forgive him?
Only a man is supposed to be pampered in this relationship called marriage?
A woman, after working for the whole day, under stress due to (reasonable and unreasonable) demands made on her, is supposed to be all seductive and ready to meet her man in the bed?
A woman is not entitled to make mistakes. She should not ever fall in the trap of being a normal human being?
My head is reeling, and I am furious. Is this really what men want? And what about women? Do they have a similar list too? I did google it but didn’t find any such equivalent shloka for an ideal husband.
