Tirukkural-On Virtue-The Helpmate-Kural 56

One who never falters in protecting herself, while tending her husband
And keeping the good name of the family, is a woman indeed.

A good wife will not spare herself in her triple duties of protecting herself, her husband and the fair name of her family.

Legend has it that Valluvar himself had such a wife, Vasuki Ammayar.

The same idea is recorded in the Bible thus:

'Happy is the husband of a good wife; the number of his days will be doubled'.

The idea of this Kural has been underscored in the following lines of Silapathikarm:

Kaadalaar piriyaamal kavukaik naekizaamal
Theedharu vaedithch cinamalar koduthoovi
Mangala nallamali yaetrinaar
(Silapathikaram)