d one, I am surprised at thy
conduct! Having requested me to wait saying, 'Stay' thou didst not
dismiss me!'

"Markandeya continued, 'O lord of men beholding that Brahmana filled with
wrath and blazing with his energy, that chaste woman began to conciliate
him and said, 'O learned one, it behoveth thee to forgive me. My husband
is my supreme god. He came hungry and tired and was being served and
waited upon by me.' Hearing this, the Brahmana said, 'With thee Brahmanas
are not worthy of superior regard. Exaltest thou thy husband above them?
Leading a domestic life, dost thou disregard Brahmanas? Indra himself
boweth down unto them, what shall I say of men on earth. Proud woman,
dost thou not know it, hast thou never heard it, that the Brahmanas are
like fire and may consume the entire earth?' At these words of that
Brahmana the woman answered, 'I am no she-crane, O regenerate Rishi! O
thou that art endued with the wealth of asceticism, cast off this anger
of thine. Engaged as thou are, what canst thou do to me with these angry
glances of thine? I do not disregard Brahmanas. Endued with great energy
of soul, they are like unto the gods themselves. But, O sinless one, this
fault of mine it behoveth thee to forgive. I know the energy and high
dignity of Brahmanas that are possessed of wisdom. The waters of the
ocean have been made brackish and undrinkable by the wrath of the
Brahmanas. I know also the energy of Munis of souls under complete
control and endued with blazing ascetic merit. The fire of their wrath to
this day hath not been extinguished in the forest of Dandaka. It was for
his having disregarded the Brahmanas that the great Asura--the wicked and
evil-minded Vatapi was digested when he came in contact with Agastya. It
hath been heard by us that the powers and merits of high-souled Brahmanas
are great. But, O Brahmana, as regenerate ones of high souls are great in
wrath, so are they equally great in forgiveness. Therefore, O sinless
one, it behoveth thee to forgive me in the matter of this my offence. O
Brahmana, my heart inclineth to that merit which springeth from the
service of my husband, for I regard my husband as the highest among all
the gods. O best of Brahmanas, I practise that virtue which consists in
serving my husband whom I regard as the highest Deity. Behold, O
regenerate one, the merit that attaches to the service of one's husband!
I know that thou hast burnt a she-crane with thy wrath! But, O best o