In plain words
She who brought back to life her husband whose life had gone, was not Sāvitrī a wife of Bhārata? She who quenched the forest fire by the might of her truth, was not Candramati a holy woman? She who leapt into the fire-pit for her honour as a faithful wife, was not Sītā a daughter born of the soil of Bhārata? She who in her anger turned the wicked, arrogant hunter to ash, was not Damayantī a woman of Bhārata? This earth, girdled by an ocean of sattva, is made spotless by the wifely faithfulness of the race of Bharata; it is a great harvest field for the riches of noble feeling; is it not the teacher of all the lands!
Embodiments of Prema! Of all vratas, the Varalakṣmī vrata is the highest. The priest told this morning how once, it is said, Pārvatī Devī asked Īśvara, “Is there any vrata that bestows well-being and good fortune on women?” Pārvatī’s wish was that every woman should live as a sumaṅgalī, with long life, health and prosperity, and with sons and grandsons flourishing. Women toil in many ways for their family, for their lineage and for their good fortune. It is women who long for equality, wholeness, unity and brotherhood. The Purāṇas tell that Pārvatī prayed to Īśvara to bestow some gift of grace on women so rich in virtue. Īśvara too was pleased at this, and told Pārvatī of the Varalakṣmī vrata, which bestows the eight kinds of wealth on women. This is a gift of grace meant especially for women.