Women in Mahabharata - Ekachakra Brahmani
She is the wife of a Brahmin living in the village of Ekachakra at the border of Panchala (Chakarnagar, UP) with her son and daughter.
She welcomes the disguised Pandavas and Kunti into her home, on the request of Dwaipayana Vyasa.
When their family is asked to offer a person as a sacrifice to the Rakshasa Baka to keep their family safe, she tries to sacrifice herself ahead of her husband and children.
We see that the Brahmani is very attached to her village and her parents who used to live there. Her husband blames her for the trouble they're in at this moment for her not allowing the family to move away earlier.
However, after the initial blaming and grieving session, the Brahmin declares that he sees his wife like a mother, and would not sacrifice her:
Saha-dharma-chareem daantaam nityam maatri-samaang mamah.
A partner in my endeavours, all constant, like a mother of mine.
Sakhaayaam vihitaam daivaih nityam paramikaam gatim.
A friend brought to me by the Gods, my ultimate refuge.
Upon hearing her husband's laments and unable to push either of their children to that fate, the Brahmani decides to sacrifice herself. She says that by giving birth to both a boy and a girl, she has fulfilled her duties to the family (a bit regressive), and if the Brahmin were to die, then she would not be able to earn her children's keep and they'd all fall to the King's mercy (which there wasn't much of).
She is finally relieved of the burden, when her little son offers to go battle the Rakshasa, and Kunti uses the interlude to offer to send Bheema to deal with Baka in their stead.
