HH Romapada Swami in Boston April 2009According to Kasyapa Muni, a chaste wife is like the commander of the fort, who will protect the individual in the fort from the onslaughts of uncontrolled senses. A pious wife is a great asset for a husband. Kasyapa Muni refers to the pious wife who assists her husband in his religious duties as the ‘better half’ of the body of the husband. We still have that expression in America today, but it is used as a passing remark or in a joking manner. There is absolutely no idea of the root of the religious message behind that statement, but Srimad Bhagavatam is giving us that message. The qualified chaste wife in relation to the husband is such a great asset - so great of an asset that the Vedas enjoin that the wife is to be considered as the ‘better-half’.When it comes to this idea of protection, it is like protecting something you highly value. For example, within one’s family there may be some priceless gold and ornaments which are passed on from generation to generation. We keep those valuables in a protected place, because we value them so much. Similarly, the protection of women is not just from preventing the harmful things that could happen against them, but more on the positive side, i.e. valuing what a qualified, chaste, and faithful wife represent. The real meaning of the better half idea is gone now as kali-yuga progresses.From a lecture by HH Romapada Swami on ‘Srimad Bhagavatam 1.11.31’ titled ‘Women and Social Norms’, St. Louis, Jan 2007.Source: http://www.romapadaswami.com/node/6778
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using anything and every one in the service of lord krsna properly then we will be happy