13.039
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O king, these men in the world are constantly attached to women, being completely overcome by delusion and what is ordained by fate. Likewise, women are attached to men; this is directly witnessed by the world. (13-39-1)
Here, an intense doubt turns in my heart: How do men form associations with these, O joy of the Kurus? Or do women become attached to them, or do they become detached again? (13-39-2)
Thus, O tiger among men, how is it possible to protect those women here by a man? You ought to explain that to me. (13-39-3)
These, indeed, with Māyā's illusions, deceive men here. No man who has come into their grasp is freed from them. Just as cows always take fresh grass, so too do they continually seize the new. (13-39-4)
The women knew all the illusions of Śambara, Namuci, Bali, and Kumbhīnaśa. (13-39-5)
These women laugh at those who laugh and ridicule them; they cry at those who cry and weep over them; and, according to the influence of time, they accept what is unpleasant with pleasant words. (13-39-6)
Whatever treatise Uśanas knows, and whatever Bṛhaspati knows, with the intellect of a woman, they are not distinguished; therefore, how should they be protected by men? (13-39-7)
They say that untruth is truth, and likewise, truth is also untruth; O hero, how are such women to be protected by men here? (13-39-8)
I think that the treatises on polity, which destroy enemies, were indeed composed by the wise such as Bṛhaspati, by extracting the intelligence of women. (13-39-9)
When honored by men, women change their minds among men; when rejected, O king, women likewise change their minds. (13-39-10)
Who is able to protect those women? This is my great doubt. Tell me that, O mighty-armed, increaser of the Kuru lineage. (13-39-11)
O best of the Kurus, if it is possible to protect them in any way, or if such protection has been done before, you ought to explain that to me. (13-39-12)
