13.038
स्त्रीस्वभावकथनम्
strīsvabhāvakathanam
[स्त्री (strī) - woman; स्वभाव (svabhāva) - nature; कथनम् (kathanam) - description;]
(woman; nature; description;)
Description of the nature of women.
युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥
yudhiṣṭhira uvāca॥
[युधिष्ठिर (yudhiṣṭhira) - Yudhiṣṭhira; (proper name); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Yudhiṣṭhira said;)
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि श्रोतुं भरतसत्तम। स्त्रियो हि मूलं दोषाणां लघुचित्ताः पितामह ॥१३-३८-१॥
strīṇāṃ svabhāvam icchāmi śrotuṃ bharatasattama। striyo hi mūlaṃ doṣāṇāṃ laghucittāḥ pitāmaha ॥13-38-1॥
[स्त्रीणां (strīṇām) - of women; स्वभावम् (svabhāvam) - nature; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; भरतसत्तम (bharatasattama) - O best of the Bharatas; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; हि (hi) - indeed; मूलम् (mūlam) - root; दोषाणाम् (doṣāṇām) - of faults; लघुचित्ताः (laghucittāḥ) - light-minded; पितामह (pitāmaha) - O grandsire;]
(Of women nature I wish to hear, O best of the Bharatas. Women indeed are the root of faults, light-minded, O grandsire. (13-38-1))
O best of the Bharatas, I wish to hear about the nature of women. Women are indeed the root of faults and are light-minded, O grandsire. (13-38-1)
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhishma said;)
Bhishma said.
अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। नारदस्य च संवादं पुंश्चल्या पञ्चचूडया ॥१३-३८-२॥
atrāpy udāharantīmam itihāsaṃ purātanam। nāradasya ca saṃvādaṃ puṃścalyā pañcachūḍayā ॥13-38-2॥
[अत्रापि (atrāpi) - here also; उदाहरन्ति (udāharanti) - they cite; इमम् (imam) - this; इतिहासम् (itihāsam) - history; पुरातनम् (purātanam) - ancient; नारदस्य (nāradasya) - of Nārada; च (ca) - and; संवादम् (saṃvādam) - dialogue; पुंश्चल्या (puṃścalyā) - by Puṃścalī; पञ्चचूडया (pañcachūḍayā) - by Pañcachūḍā;]
(Here also they cite this ancient history; the dialogue of Nārada and by Puṃścalī by Pañcachūḍā. (13-38-2))
Here too, they relate this ancient story: the conversation between Nārada and the courtesan Pañcachūḍā. (13-38-2)
लोकाननुचरन्धीमान्देवर्षिर्नारदः पुरा। ददर्शाप्सरसं ब्राह्मीं पञ्चचूडामनिन्दिताम् ॥१३-३८-३॥
lokān anucarann dhīmān devarṣir nāradaḥ purā। dadarśa apsarasaṃ brāhmīṃ pañcachūḍām aninditām ॥13-38-3॥
[लोकान् (lokān) - worlds; अनुचरन् (anucarann) - moving after; धीमान् (dhīmān) - intelligent; देवर्षिः (devarṣiḥ) - divine sage; नारदः (nāradaḥ) - Nārada; पुरा (purā) - formerly; ददर्श (dadarśa) - saw; अप्सरसं (apsarasaṃ) - apsaras; ब्राह्मीं (brāhmīṃ) - of Brahmā; पञ्चचूडाम् (pañcachūḍām) - Pañcachūḍā; अनिन्दिताम् (aninditām) - blameless;]
(Worlds moving after intelligent divine sage Nārada formerly saw apsaras of Brahmā Pañcachūḍā blameless.)
Once, the intelligent divine sage Nārada, while traveling through the worlds, saw the blameless apsaras Pañcachūḍā, who belonged to Brahmā. (13-38-3)
तां दृष्ट्वा चारुसर्वाङ्गीं पप्रच्छाप्सरसं मुनिः। संशयो हृदि मे कश्चित्तन्मे ब्रूहि सुमध्यमे ॥१३-३८-४॥
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā cārusarvāṅgīṃ papracchāpsarasaṃ muniḥ। saṃśayo hṛdi me kaścit tan me brūhi sumadhyame ॥13-38-4॥
[ताम् (tām) - her; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; चारु (cāru) - beautiful; सर्वाङ्गीम् (sarvāṅgīm) - with all limbs; पप्रच्छ (papraccha) - asked; अप्सरसं (apsarasaṃ) - the apsaras; मुनिः (muniḥ) - the sage; संशयः (saṃśayaḥ) - doubt; हृदि (hṛdi) - in (my) heart; मे (me) - my; कश्चित् (kaścit) - some; तत् (tat) - that; मे (me) - to me; ब्रूहि (brūhi) - tell; सुमध्यमे (sumadhyame) - O slender-waisted one;]
(Having seen her, beautiful in all limbs, the sage asked the apsaras: "Some doubt is in my heart; that tell to me, O slender-waisted one.")
Seeing her, whose every limb was beautiful, the sage questioned the apsaras: "A certain doubt has arisen in my heart; please tell me that, O slender-waisted one." (13-38-4)
एवमुक्ता तु सा विप्रं प्रत्युवाचाथ नारदम्। विषये सति वक्ष्यामि समर्थां मन्यसे च माम् ॥१३-३८-५॥
evamuktā tu sā vipraṃ pratyuvācātha nāradam। viṣaye sati vakṣyāmi samarthāṃ manyase ca mām॥13-38-5॥
[एवम् (evam) - thus; उक्ता (uktā) - having been spoken; तु (tu) - but; सा (sā) - she; विप्रं (vipram) - the brāhmaṇa; प्रत्युवाच (pratyuvāca) - replied; अथ (atha) - then; नारदम् (nāradam) - Nārada; विषये (viṣaye) - in the matter; सति (sati) - being; वक्ष्यामि (vakṣyāmi) - I will speak; समर्थां (samarthām) - capable; मन्यसे (manyase) - you consider; च (ca) - and; माम् (mām) - me;]
(Thus having been spoken, but she replied to the brāhmaṇa, then to Nārada: 'In the matter being, I will speak if you consider me capable.' (13-38-5))
Thus addressed, she replied to the brāhmaṇa, to Nārada: 'If the matter is so, I will speak, if you consider me capable.' (13-38-5)
नारद उवाच॥
nārada uvāca॥
[नारद (nārada) - Nārada; (name of the sage); उवाच (uvāca) - said; spoke;]
(Nārada said;)
Nārada said.
न त्वामविषये भद्रे नियोक्ष्यामि कथञ्चन। स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रोतुं वरानने ॥१३-३८-६॥
na tvāmaviṣaye bhadre niyokṣyāmi kathaṃcana। strīṇāṃ svabhāvamicchāmi tvattaḥ śrotuṃ varānane ॥13-38-6॥
[न (na) - not; त्वाम् (tvām) - you (accusative singular); अविषये (aviṣaye) - in a matter not concerning (you); भद्रे (bhadre) - O auspicious one; नियोक्ष्यामि (niyokṣyāmi) - I shall not employ; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way; स्त्रीणाम् (strīṇām) - of women; स्वभावम् (svabhāvam) - nature; इच्छामि (icchāmi) - I wish; त्वत्तः (tvattaḥ) - from you; श्रोतुम् (śrotum) - to hear; वरानने (varānane) - O beautiful-faced one;]
(Not you in a matter not concerning (you), O auspicious one, I shall employ in any way. Of women the nature I wish from you to hear, O beautiful-faced one. (13-38-6))
O auspicious one, I will not employ you in any matter that does not concern you in any way. I wish to hear from you about the nature of women, O beautiful-faced one. (13-38-6)
भीष्म उवाच॥
bhīṣma uvāca॥
[भीष्म (bhīṣma) - Bhishma; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(Bhishma said;)
Bhishma said.
एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य देवर्षेरप्सरोत्तमा। प्रत्युवाच न शक्ष्यामि स्त्री सती निन्दितुं स्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-७॥
etacchrutvā vacas tasya devarṣer apsarottamā। pratyuvāca na śakṣyāmi strī satī nindituṃ striyaḥ ॥13-38-7॥
[एतत् (etat) - this; श्रुत्वा (śrutvā) - having heard; वचः (vacaḥ) - speech; तस्य (tasya) - of him; देवर्षेः (devarṣeḥ) - of the divine sage; अप्सरः-उत्तमा (apsaraḥ-uttamā) - the best among apsarases; प्रत्युवाच (pratyuvāca) - replied; न (na) - not; शक्ष्यामि (śakṣyāmi) - I am able; स्त्री (strī) - woman; सती (satī) - being; निन्दितुम् (ninditum) - to blame; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women;]
(Having heard this speech of him, the best among apsarases, replied: "I, being a woman, am not able to blame women." (13-38-7))
Hearing these words of the divine sage, the foremost of the apsarases replied: "As a woman myself, I am not able to criticize women." (13-38-7)
विदितास्ते स्त्रियो याश्च यादृशाश्च स्वभावतः। न मामर्हसि देवर्षे नियोक्तुं प्रश्न ईदृशे ॥१३-३८-८॥
viditās te striyo yāś ca yādṛśāś ca svabhāvataḥ। na mām arhasi devarṣe niyoktuṃ praśna īdṛśe ॥13-38-8॥
[विदिताः (viditāḥ) - known; ते (te) - to you; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; याः (yāḥ) - who; च (ca) - and; यादृशाः (yādṛśāḥ) - of what kind; च (ca) - and; स्वभावतः (svabhāvataḥ) - by nature; न (na) - not; माम् (mām) - me; अर्हसि (arhasi) - you ought; देवर्षे (devarṣe) - O sage among the gods; नियोक्तुम् (niyoktum) - to appoint; प्रश्ने (praśne) - in the question; ईदृशे (īdṛśe) - such;]
(Known to you are the women and of what kind by nature; not me you ought, O sage among the gods, to appoint in such a question.)
You already know the women and their natures; O sage among the gods, you should not appoint me to answer such a question. (13-38-8)
तामुवाच स देवर्षिः सत्यं वद सुमध्यमे। मृषावादे भवेद्दोषः सत्ये दोषो न विद्यते ॥१३-३८-९॥
tām uvāca sa devarṣiḥ satyaṃ vada sumadhyame। mṛṣāvāde bhaved doṣaḥ satye doṣo na vidyate ॥13-38-9॥
[ताम् (tām) - her (accusative singular); उवाच (uvāca) - said; स (sa) - he; देवर्षिः (devarṣiḥ) - divine sage; सत्यं (satyaṃ) - truth; वद (vada) - speak; सुमध्यमे (sumadhyame) - O slender-waisted one; मृषावादे (mṛṣāvāde) - in false speech; भवेत् (bhavet) - there is; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; सत्ये (satye) - in truth; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; न (na) - not; विद्यते (vidyate) - exists;]
(To her said he the divine sage: "Speak the truth, O slender-waisted one. In false speech there is fault; in truth, fault does not exist." (13-38-9))
The divine sage said to her: "Speak the truth, O slender-waisted one. Fault arises from falsehood; there is no fault in truth." (13-38-9)
इत्युक्ता सा कृतमतिरभवच्चारुहासिनी। स्त्रीदोषाञ्शाश्वतान्सत्यान्भाषितुं सम्प्रचक्रमे ॥१३-३८-१०॥
ityuktā sā kṛtamatiḥ abhavat cāruhāsinī। strīdoṣān śāśvatān satyān bhāṣitum sampracakrame ॥13-38-10॥
[इति (iti) - thus; उक्ता (uktā) - addressed; सा (sā) - she; कृतमतिः (kṛtamatiḥ) - having resolved mind; अभवत् (abhavat) - became; चारुहासिनी (cāruhāsinī) - with beautiful smile; स्त्रीदोषान् (strīdoṣān) - faults of women; शाश्वतान् (śāśvatān) - eternal; सत्यान् (satyān) - true; भाषितुम् (bhāṣitum) - to speak; सम्प्रचक्रमे (sampracakrame) - she began;]
(Thus addressed, she, having resolved mind, became with beautiful smile. The faults of women, eternal, true, to speak, she began.)
Thus addressed, she, with a resolved mind and a beautiful smile, began to speak of the true and eternal faults of women. (13-38-10)
पञ्चचूडोवाच॥
pañcachūḍo'vāca॥
[पञ्चचूडः (pañcachūḍaḥ) - the one with five crests; उवाच (uvāca) - said;]
(pañcachūḍaḥ said;)
Pañcachūḍa said.
कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च नाथवत्यश्च योषितः। मर्यादासु न तिष्ठन्ति स दोषः स्त्रीषु नारद ॥१३-३८-११॥
kulīnā rūpavatyaś ca nāthavatyaś ca yoṣitaḥ। maryādāsu na tiṣṭhanti sa doṣaḥ strīṣu nārada ॥13-38-11॥
[कुलीना (kulīnā) - of noble birth; रूपवत्यः (rūpavatyaḥ) - beautiful women; च (ca) - and; नाथवत्यः (nāthavatyaḥ) - those having husbands; च (ca) - and; योषितः (yoṣitaḥ) - women; मर्यादासु (maryādāsu) - in boundaries; न (na) - not; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - stand; स (sa) - that; दोषः (doṣaḥ) - fault; स्त्रीषु (strīṣu) - in women; नारद (nārada) - O Nārada;]
(Of noble birth, beautiful, and those having husbands, women, in boundaries, do not stand; that fault, in women, O Nārada.)
O Nārada, women of noble birth, beauty, and even those with husbands do not remain within boundaries; that fault is inherent in women. (13-38-11)
न स्त्रीभ्यः किञ्चिदन्यद्वै पापीयस्तरमस्ति वै। स्त्रियो हि मूलं दोषाणां तथा त्वमपि वेत्थ ह ॥१३-३८-१२॥
na strībhyah kiñcid anyad vai pāpīyastaram asti vai। striyo hi mūlaṃ doṣāṇāṃ tathā tvam api vettha ha ॥13-38-12॥
[न (na) - not; स्त्रीभ्यः (strībhyah) - than women; किञ्चित् (kiñcit) - anything; अन्यत् (anyat) - else; वै (vai) - indeed; पापीयस्तरम् (pāpīyastaram) - more sinful; अस्ति (asti) - is; वै (vai) - indeed; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; हि (hi) - indeed; मूलम् (mūlam) - root; दोषाणाम् (doṣāṇām) - of faults; तथा (tathā) - so; त्वम् (tvam) - you; अपि (api) - also; वेत्थ (vettha) - know; ह (ha) - indeed;]
(Not than women anything else indeed more sinful is indeed. Women indeed root of faults so you also know indeed.)
There is indeed nothing more sinful than women. Women are truly the root of faults, as you also know. (13-38-12)
समाज्ञातानृद्धिमतः प्रतिरूपान्वशे स्थितान्। पतीनन्तरमासाद्य नालं नार्यः प्रतीक्षितुम् ॥१३-३८-१३॥
samājñātānṛddhimataḥ pratirūpānvaśe sthitān। patīnantaramāsādya nālaṃ nāryaḥ pratīkṣitum ॥13-38-13॥
[समाज्ञातान् (samājñātān) - well-known; recognized; ऋद्धिमतः (ṛddhimataḥ) - prosperous; endowed with wealth; प्रतिरूपान् (pratirūpān) - similar; resembling; वशे (vaśe) - under control; in power; स्थितान् (sthitān) - situated; placed; पतीन् (patīn) - husbands; अन्तरम् (antaram) - another; different; आसाद्य (āsādya) - having obtained; having reached; न (na) - not; अलम् (alam) - capable; able; नार्यः (nāryaḥ) - women; प्रतीक्षितुम् (pratīkṣitum) - to wait; to expect;]
(Well-known, prosperous, similar, under control, situated, husbands, another, having obtained, not, capable, women, to wait.)
Having obtained other husbands who are well-known, prosperous, and similar and under their control, women are not able to wait. (13-38-13)
असद्धर्मस्त्वयं स्त्रीणामस्माकं भवति प्रभो। पापीयसो नरान्यद्वै लज्जां त्यक्त्वा भजामहे ॥१३-३८-१४॥
asaddharmastvayaṃ strīṇāmasmākaṃ bhavati prabho। pāpīyaso narānyadvai lajjāṃ tyaktvā bhajāmahe ॥13-38-14॥
[असद्धर्मः (asaddharmaḥ) - unrighteous conduct; तु (tu) - but; अयम् (ayam) - this; स्त्रीणाम् (strīṇām) - of women; अस्माकम् (asmākam) - of us; भवति (bhavati) - becomes; प्रभो (prabho) - O lord; पापीयसः (pāpīyasaḥ) - more sinful; नरान् (narān) - men; यत् (yat) - which; वै (vai) - indeed; लज्जाम् (lajjām) - shame; त्यक्त्वा (tyaktvā) - having abandoned; भजामहे (bhajāmahe) - we resort;]
(But this unrighteous conduct of women, O lord, becomes ours; which indeed more sinful men, having abandoned shame, we resort to.)
O lord, this unrighteous conduct becomes ours as women; indeed, we resort to that which even more sinful men, having abandoned shame, do. (13-38-14)
स्त्रियं हि यः प्रार्थयते संनिकर्षं च गच्छति। ईषच्च कुरुते सेवां तमेवेच्छन्ति योषितः ॥१३-३८-१५॥
striyaṃ hi yaḥ prārthayate saṃnikarṣaṃ ca gacchati। īṣacca kurute sevāṃ tamevecchanti yoṣitaḥ ॥13-38-15॥
[स्त्रियं (striyaṃ) - woman; हि (hi) - indeed; यः (yaḥ) - who; प्रार्थयते (prārthayate) - desires; सन्निकर्षं (saṃnikarṣaṃ) - proximity; च (ca) - and; गच्छति (gacchati) - goes; ईषत् (īṣat) - a little; च (ca) - and; कुरुते (kurute) - does; सेवां (sevāṃ) - service; तम् (tam) - him; एव (eva) - only; इच्छन्ति (icchanti) - desire; योषितः (yoṣitaḥ) - women;]
(Who indeed desires a woman, goes to proximity and does a little service, him only women desire.)
Women desire only that man who seeks a woman, approaches her, and renders even a little service. (13-38-15)
अनर्थित्वान्मनुष्याणां भयात्परिजनस्य च। मर्यादायाममर्यादाः स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु ॥१३-३८-१६॥
anarthitvān manuṣyāṇāṃ bhayāt parijanasya ca। maryādāyām amaryādāḥ striyas tiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu ॥13-38-16॥
[अनर्थित्वात् (anarthitvāt) - from lack of prosperity; मनुष्याणाम् (manuṣyāṇām) - of men; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear; परिजनस्य (parijanasya) - of attendants; च (ca) - and; मर्यादायाम् (maryādāyām) - in propriety; अमर्यादाः (amaryādāḥ) - improper; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - remain; भर्तृषु (bhartṛṣu) - with husbands;]
(From lack of prosperity of men, from fear of attendants and, in propriety, improper women remain with husbands.)
Due to the lack of prosperity among men and out of fear of the attendants, even improper women remain with their husbands within the bounds of propriety. (13-38-16)
नासां कश्चिदगम्योऽस्ति नासां वयसि संस्थितिः। विरूपं रूपवन्तं वा पुमानित्येव भुञ्जते ॥१३-३८-१७॥
nāsāṃ kaścidagamyo'sti nāsāṃ vayasi saṃsthitiḥ। virūpaṃ rūpavantaṃ vā pumānityeva bhuñjate ॥13-38-17॥
[नासां (nāsāṃ) - of them (women); कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; अगम्यः (agamyaḥ) - not to be approached; अस्ति (asti) - is; नासां (nāsāṃ) - of them (women); वयसि (vayasi) - in age; संस्थितिः (saṃsthitiḥ) - stability; विरूपं (virūpaṃ) - ugly; रूपवन्तं (rūpavantaṃ) - handsome; वा (vā) - or; पुमान् (pumān) - man; इति (iti) - thus; एव (eva) - indeed; भुञ्जते (bhuñjate) - enjoys;]
(Of them (women), there is no one not to be approached; of them, there is no stability in age. An ugly or handsome man, thus indeed, she enjoys.)
For women, there is no one who is forbidden, nor is there constancy in age for them. Whether a man is ugly or handsome, she enjoys him just the same. (13-38-17)
न भयान्नाप्यनुक्रोशान्नार्थहेतोः कथञ्चन। न ज्ञातिकुलसम्बन्धात्स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु ॥१३-३८-१८॥
na bhayānnāpyanukrośānnārthahetoḥ kathaṃcana। na jñātikulasambandhātstriyastiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu ॥13-38-18॥
[न (na) - not; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear; न (na) - not; अपि (api) - also; अनुक्रोशात् (anukrośāt) - from compassion; न (na) - not; अर्थहेतोः (arthahetoḥ) - for the sake of wealth; कथञ्चन (kathaṃcana) - in any way; न (na) - not; ज्ञातिकुलसम्बन्धात् (jñātikulasambandhāt) - from relation to family and kin; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - remain; भर्तृषु (bhartṛṣu) - with husbands;]
(Not from fear, nor also from compassion, nor for the sake of wealth, in any way; not from relation to family and kin do women remain with husbands.)
Women do not remain with their husbands out of fear, compassion, desire for wealth, or even because of family or kinship ties, in any way. (13-38-18)
यौवने वर्तमानानां मृष्टाभरणवाससाम्। नारीणां स्वैरवृत्तानां स्पृहयन्ति कुलस्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-१९॥
yauvane vartamānānāṃ mṛṣṭābharaṇavāsasām। nārīṇāṃ svairavṛttānāṃ spṛhayanti kulastriyaḥ ॥13-38-19॥
[यौवने (yauvane) - in youth; वर्तमानानां (vartamānānāṃ) - of those who are present; मृष्ट (mṛṣṭa) - adorned; आभरण (ābharaṇa) - with ornaments; वाससाम् (vāsasām) - with garments; नारीणां (nārīṇāṃ) - of women; स्वैर (svaira) - independent; वृत्तानां (vṛttānāṃ) - of conduct; स्पृहयन्ति (spṛhayanti) - desire; कुलस्त्रियः (kulastriyaḥ) - noble women;]
(In youth, of those who are present, adorned with ornaments and garments, of women, of independent conduct, desire noble women.)
Noble women desire youthful women who are present, adorned with ornaments and garments, and who have independent conduct. (13-38-19)
याश्च शश्वद्बहुमता रक्ष्यन्ते दयिताः स्त्रियः। अपि ताः सम्प्रसज्जन्ते कुब्जान्धजडवामनैः ॥१३-३८-२०॥
yāś ca śaśvad-bahumatā rakṣyante dayitāḥ striyaḥ। api tāḥ samprasajjante kubjāndhajaḍavāmanaiḥ ॥13-38-20॥
[याः (yāḥ) - who; (feminine, plural); च (ca) - and; शश्वत् (śaśvat) - always; बहुमता (bahumatā) - highly regarded; रक्ष्यन्ते (rakṣyante) - are protected; दयिताः (dayitāḥ) - beloved; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women; अपि (api) - even; ताः (tāḥ) - they; (feminine, plural); सम्प्रसज्जन्ते (samprasajjante) - become attached; कुब्ज (kubja) - hunchbacked; अन्ध (andha) - blind; जड (jaḍa) - dull-witted; वामनैः (vāmanaiḥ) - with dwarfs;]
(Who and always highly regarded are protected beloved women, even they become attached with hunchbacked, blind, dull-witted, dwarfs.)
Even those women who are always beloved, highly regarded, and protected, become attached to hunchbacked, blind, dull-witted, or dwarfish men. (13-38-20)
पङ्गुष्वपि च देवर्षे ये चान्ये कुत्सिता नराः। स्त्रीणामगम्यो लोकेऽस्मिन्नास्ति कश्चिन्महामुने ॥१३-३८-२१॥
paṅguṣv api ca devarṣe ye ca anye kutsitā narāḥ। strīṇām agamyaḥ loke 'smin nāsti kaścit mahāmune ॥13-38-21॥
[पङ्गुषु (paṅguṣu) - among the lame; अपि (api) - even; च (ca) - and; देवर्षे (devarṣe) - O divine sage; ये (ye) - who; च (ca) - and; अन्ये (anye) - others; कुत्सिताः (kutsitāḥ) - despised; नराः (narāḥ) - men; स्त्रीणाम् (strīṇām) - of women; अगम्यः (agamyaḥ) - not to be approached; लोके (loke) - in the world; अस्मिन् (asmin) - in this; नास्ति (nāsti) - there is not; कश्चित् (kaścit) - anyone; महामुने (mahāmune) - O great sage;]
(Even among the lame, and O divine sage, those other despised men, of women, not to be approached, in the world, in this, there is not anyone, O great sage.)
O divine sage, even among the lame and other despised men, there is no one in this world who is not to be approached by women, O great sage. (13-38-21)
यदि पुंसां गतिर्ब्रह्म कथञ्चिन्नोपपद्यते। अप्यन्योन्यं प्रवर्तन्ते न हि तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु ॥१३-३८-२२॥
yadi puṁsāṁ gatir brahma kathañcin nopapadyate। apy anyonyaṁ pravartante na hi tiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu ॥13-38-22॥
[यदि (yadi) - if; पुंसां (puṁsāṁ) - of men; गतिः (gatiḥ) - goal; ब्रह्म (brahma) - Brahman; कथञ्चित् (kathañcit) - in any way; न (na) - not; उपपद्यते (upapadyate) - is attained; अपि (api) - even; अन्योन्यम् (anyonyaṁ) - each other; प्रवर्तन्ते (pravartante) - engage; न (na) - not; हि (hi) - indeed; तिष्ठन्ति (tiṣṭhanti) - remain; भर्तृषु (bhartṛṣu) - with husbands;]
(If of men the goal Brahman in any way is not attained, even each other engage, not indeed remain with husbands.)
If men do not attain the goal of Brahman in any way, even then, they engage with each other and do not remain with their husbands. (13-38-22)
अलाभात्पुरुषाणां हि भयात्परिजनस्य च। वधबन्धभयाच्चापि स्वयं गुप्ता भवन्ति ताः ॥१३-३८-२३॥
alābhāt puruṣāṇāṃ hi bhayāt parijanasya ca। vadhabandhabhayāc cāpi svayaṃ guptā bhavanti tāḥ ॥13-38-23॥
[अलाभात् (alābhāt) - from loss; पुरुषाणां (puruṣāṇām) - of men; हि (hi) - indeed; भयात् (bhayāt) - from fear; परिजनस्य (parijanasya) - of attendants; च (ca) - and; वधबन्धभयात् (vadhabandhabhayāt) - from fear of killing and bondage; च (ca) - and; अपि (api) - also; स्वयम् (svayam) - themselves; गुप्ता (guptā) - protected; भवन्ति (bhavanti) - become; ताः (tāḥ) - they;]
(From loss of men indeed, from fear of attendants and, from fear of killing and bondage also, themselves protected become they.)
Indeed, out of fear of loss of men, fear of attendants, and also fear of being killed or bound, they themselves become cautious and guarded. (13-38-23)
चलस्वभावा दुःसेव्या दुर्ग्राह्या भावतस्तथा। प्राज्ञस्य पुरुषस्येह यथा वाचस्तथा स्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-२४॥
calasvabhāvā duḥsevyā durgrāhyā bhāvatastathā। prājñasya puruṣasyeha yathā vācastathā striyaḥ ॥13-38-24॥
[चलस्वभावा (calasvabhāvā) - of fickle nature; दुःसेव्या (duḥsevyā) - difficult to serve; दुर्ग्राह्या (durgrāhyā) - hard to understand; भावतः (bhāvataḥ) - in disposition; तथा (tathā) - so; प्राज्ञस्य (prājñasya) - of the wise; पुरुषस्य (puruṣasya) - of man; इह (iha) - here; यथा (yathā) - just as; वाचः (vācaḥ) - speech; तथा (tathā) - so; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women;]
(Of fickle nature, difficult to serve, hard to understand in disposition so; of the wise man here, just as speech, so women.)
Women are of fickle nature, difficult to serve, and hard to understand in disposition; here, for a wise man, women are just like speech. (13-38-24)
नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः। नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः ॥१३-३८-२५॥
nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ। nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāmalocanāḥ ॥13-38-25॥
[न (na) - not; अग्निः (agniḥ) - fire; तृप्यति (tṛpyati) - is satisfied; काष्ठानां (kāṣṭhānāṃ) - of woods; न (na) - not; आपगानां (āpagānāṃ) - of rivers; महोदधिः (mahodadhiḥ) - the great ocean; न (na) - not; अन्तकः (antakaḥ) - Death; सर्वभूतानां (sarvabhūtānāṃ) - of all beings; न (na) - not; पुंसां (puṃsāṃ) - of men; वामलोचनाः (vāmalocanāḥ) - women;]
(Not fire is satisfied of woods; not of rivers the great ocean; not Death of all beings; not of men women.)
Fire is never satisfied with wood, the great ocean is never satisfied with rivers, Death is never satisfied with all beings, and women are never satisfied with men. (13-38-25)
इदमन्यच्च देवर्षे रहस्यं सर्वयोषिताम्। दृष्ट्वैव पुरुषं हृद्यं योनिः प्रक्लिद्यते स्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-२६॥
idam anyac ca devarṣe rahasyaṁ sarvayoṣitām। dṛṣṭvaiva puruṣaṁ hṛdyaṁ yoniḥ praklidyate striyaḥ ॥13-38-26॥
[इदम् (idam) - this; अन्यत् (anyat) - another; च (ca) - and; देवर्षे (devarṣe) - O divine sage; रहस्यं (rahasyaṁ) - secret; सर्वयोषिताम् (sarvayoṣitām) - of all women; दृष्ट्वा (dṛṣṭvā) - having seen; एव (eva) - indeed; पुरुषं (puruṣam) - man; हृद्यं (hṛdyaṁ) - pleasing; योनिः (yoniḥ) - womb; प्रक्लिद्यते (praklidyate) - becomes excited; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women;]
(This another and, O divine sage, secret of all women; having seen indeed a man pleasing, the womb becomes excited, women.)
O divine sage, here is another secret of all women: when they see a pleasing man, their womb becomes excited. (13-38-26)
कामानामपि दातारं कर्तारं मानसान्त्वयोः। रक्षितारं न मृष्यन्ति भर्तारं परमं स्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-२७॥
kāmānām api dātāraṃ kartāraṃ mānasāntvayoḥ। rakṣitāraṃ na mṛṣyanti bhartāraṃ paramaṃ striyaḥ ॥13-38-27॥
[कामानाम् (kāmānām) - of desires; अपि (api) - even; दातारम् (dātāram) - giver; कर्तारम् (kartāram) - doer; मानस-अन्त्वयोः (mānasa-antvayoḥ) - of mental consolations; रक्षितारम् (rakṣitāram) - protector; न (na) - not; मृष्यन्ति (mṛṣyanti) - endure; भर्तारम् (bhartāram) - husband; परम् (paramam) - supreme; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women;]
(Of desires even the giver, the doer, of mental consolations, the protector, not endure the husband supreme women (13-38-27))
Even if he is the giver of desires, the doer, the consoler of the mind, and the protector, women do not tolerate even the supreme husband. (13-38-27)
न कामभोगान्बहुलान्नालङ्कारार्थसञ्चयान्। तथैव बहु मन्यन्ते यथा रत्यामनुग्रहम् ॥१३-३८-२८॥
na kāmabhogān bahulān nālaṅkārārthasañcayān। tathaiva bahu manyante yathā ratyām anugraham ॥13-38-28॥
[न (na) - not; कामभोगान् (kāmabhogān) - enjoyments of desires; बहुलान् (bahulān) - abundant; न (na) - not; आलङ्कारार्थसञ्चयान् (ālaṅkārārthasañcayān) - accumulations for the sake of ornaments; तथैव (tathaiva) - just so; बहु (bahu) - much; मन्यन्ते (manyante) - they consider; यथा (yathā) - as; रत्याम् (ratyām) - in pleasure; अनुग्रहम् (anugraham) - favor;]
(Not enjoyments of desires, not abundant accumulations for the sake of ornaments; just so, much they consider as favor in pleasure.)
They do not consider abundant enjoyments of desires or accumulations for the sake of ornaments as important; rather, they regard favor in pleasure as much more significant. (13-38-28)
अन्तकः शमनो मृत्युः पातालं वडवामुखम्। क्षुरधारा विषं सर्पो वह्निरित्येकतः स्त्रियः ॥१३-३८-२९॥
antakaḥ śamano mṛtyuḥ pātālaṃ vaḍavāmukham। kṣuradhārā viṣaṃ sarpo vahnirityekataḥ striyaḥ ॥13-38-29॥
[अन्तकः (antakaḥ) - destroyer; शमनो (śamano) - pacifier; मृत्युः (mṛtyuḥ) - death; पातालं (pātālam) - netherworld; वडवामुखम् (vaḍavāmukham) - submarine fire; क्षुरधारा (kṣuradhārā) - razor's edge; विषं (viṣam) - poison; सर्पः (sarpaḥ) - serpent; वह्निः (vahniḥ) - fire; इति (iti) - thus; एकतः (ekataḥ) - on one side; स्त्रियः (striyaḥ) - women;]
(Destroyer, pacifier, death, netherworld, submarine fire, razor's edge, poison, serpent, fire—thus on one side; women.)
On one side are the destroyer, pacifier, death, the netherworld, submarine fire, razor's edge, poison, serpent, and fire; on the other side are women. (13-38-29)
यतश्च भूतानि महान्ति पञ्च; यतश्च लोका विहिता विधात्रा। यतः पुमांसः प्रमदाश्च निर्मिता; स्तदैव दोषाः प्रमदासु नारद ॥१३-३८-३०॥
yataś ca bhūtāni mahānti pañca; yataś ca lokā vihitā vidhātrā. yataḥ pumāṁsaḥ pramadāś ca nirmitā; t tad eva doṣāḥ pramadāsu nārada ॥13-38-30॥
[यतः (yataḥ) - from which; च (ca) - and; भूतानि (bhūtāni) - elements; महान्ति (mahānti) - great; पञ्च (pañca) - five; यतः (yataḥ) - from which; च (ca) - and; लोका (lokā) - worlds; विहिता (vihitā) - established; विधात्रा (vidhātrā) - by the creator; यतः (yataḥ) - from which; पुमांसः (pumāṁsaḥ) - men; प्रमदाः (pramadāḥ) - women; च (ca) - and; निर्मिता (nirmitā) - created; तत् (tat) - that; एव (eva) - indeed; दोषाः (doṣāḥ) - faults; प्रमदासु (pramadāsu) - in women; नारद (nārada) - O Nārada;]
(From which the five great elements; and from which the worlds are established by the creator. From which men and women are created; that indeed, O Nārada, are the faults in women.)
From that source from which the five great elements arise, and from which the worlds are established by the creator, and from which men and women are created—O Nārada, in women, indeed, those very faults exist. (13-38-30)
