Mahabharata — Volume IX (Dutt edition) — Chapter 38

MBh 9 38.1

युधिष्ठिर उवाच स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि श्रोतुं भरतसत्तम। स्त्रियो हि मूलं दोषाणां लघुचित्ता हि ताः स्मृताः॥१

yudhiṣṭhira uvāca strīṇāṃ svabhāvamicchāmi śrotuṃ bharatasattama| striyo hi mūlaṃ doṣāṇāṃ laghucittā hi tāḥ smṛtāḥ||1

Yudhishthira said O best of the Bharatas, I wish to hear you describe the disposition of women. Women are said to be the root of all evil. They are all considered as highly frail.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.2

भीष्म उवाच अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम्। नारदस्य च संवादं पुंश्चल्या पञ्चचूडया॥

bhīṣma uvāca atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṃ purātanam| nāradasya ca saṃvādaṃ puṃścalyā pañcacūḍayā||

Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old history of the discourse between the celestial Rishi Narada and the (celestial) courtezan Panchachuda.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.3

लोकाननुचरन् सर्वान् देवर्षिर्नारदः पुरा। ददर्शाप्सरसं ब्राह्मीं पञ्चचूडामनिन्दिताम्॥

lokānanucaran sarvān devarṣirnāradaḥ purā| dadarśāpsarasaṃ brāhmīṃ pañcacūḍāmaninditām||

Once in ancient times, the celestial Rishi Narada, having roamed over all the world, met the Apsara Panchachuda of faultless, beauty, having her residence in the region of Brahman.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.4

तां दृष्ट्वा चारुसर्वाङ्गी पप्रच्छाप्सरसं मुनिः। संशयो हृदि कश्चिन्मे ब्रूहि तन्मे सुनध्यमे॥

tāṃ dṛṣṭvā cārusarvāṅgī papracchāpsarasaṃ muniḥ| saṃśayo hṛdi kaścinme brūhi tanme sunadhyame||

Seeing the Apsara every limb of whose body was highly beautiful, the ascetic addressed her, saying Oyou of slender waist, I have a doubt in my mind. Do you explain it!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.5

भीष्म उवाच एवमुक्ताथ सा विप्रं प्रत्युवाचाथ नारदम्। विषये सति वक्ष्यामि समर्थे मन्यसे च माम्॥

bhīṣma uvāca evamuktātha sā vipraṃ pratyuvācātha nāradam| viṣaye sati vakṣyāmi samarthe manyase ca mām||

Bhishma said Thus addressed by the Rishi, the Apsara said to him If the subject is one which is known to me and if you consider me competent to speak on it, I shall certainly say what is in my mind.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.6

नारद उवाच न त्वामविषये भद्रे नियोक्ष्यामि कथंचन। स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रोतुं वरानने॥

nārada uvāca na tvāmaviṣaye bhadre niyokṣyāmi kathaṃcana| strīṇāṃ svabhāvamicchāmi tvattaḥ śrotuṃ varānane||

Narada said O amiable one, I shall not certainly ask you for any task that is beyond your power. O you of beautiful face, I wish to hear from you of the disposition of women.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.7

भीष्म उवाच एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य देवर्षेरप्सरोत्तमा। प्रत्युवाच न शक्ष्यामि स्त्री सती निन्दितुं स्त्रियः॥

bhīṣma uvāca etacchrutvā vacastasya devarṣerapsarottamā| pratyuvāca na śakṣyāmi strī satī nindituṃ striyaḥ||

Bhishma said Hearing these words of the celestial Rishi, that foremost of Apsaras replied to him, saying I am unable being myself a woman to speak ill of women.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.8

विदितास्ते स्त्रियो याश्च यादृशाश्च स्वभावतः। न मामर्हसि देवर्षे नियोक्तुं कार्य ईदृशे॥

viditāste striyo yāśca yādṛśāśca svabhāvataḥ| na māmarhasi devarṣe niyoktuṃ kārya īdṛśe||

You know what women are and with what nature they are gifted. You should not, O celestial Rishi, set me to such a task.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.9

तामुवाच स देवर्षिः सत्यं वद सुमध्यमे। मृषावादे भवेद् दोषः सत्ये दोषो न विद्यते॥

tāmuvāca sa devarṣiḥ satyaṃ vada sumadhyame| mṛṣāvāde bhaved doṣaḥ satye doṣo na vidyate||

It is very To her the celestial Rishi said true, O you of slender waist! One commits sin by speaking what is untrue. In saying however, what is true, there can be no sin.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.10

इत्युक्ता सा कृतमतिरभवच्चारुहासिनी। स्त्रीदोषाञ्छाश्वतान् सत्यान् भाषितुं सम्प्रचक्रमे॥

ityuktā sā kṛtamatirabhavaccāruhāsinī| strīdoṣāñchāśvatān satyān bhāṣituṃ sampracakrame||

Thus addressed by him, the Apsara Panchachuda of sweet smiles consented to answer Narada's question. She then addressed herself to mention what the true and eternal shortcomings are of women.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.11

पञ्चचूड़ उवाच कुलीना रूपवत्यश्च नाथवत्यश्च योषितः। मर्यादासु न तिष्ठन्ति स दोषः स्त्रीषु नारद॥

pañcacūḍa़ uvāca kulīnā rūpavatyaśca nāthavatyaśca yoṣitaḥ| maryādāsu na tiṣṭhanti sa doṣaḥ strīṣu nārada||

Panchachuda said Even if highborn and gifted with beauty and possessed of protectors women wish to transgress the restraints assigned to them. This fault truly attaches them, O Narada.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.12

न स्त्रीभ्यः किञ्चिदन्यद् वै पापीयस्तरमस्ति वै। स्त्रियो हि मूलं दोषाणां तथा त्वमपि वेत्थ ह॥

na strībhyaḥ kiñcidanyad vai pāpīyastaramasti vai| striyo hi mūlaṃ doṣāṇāṃ tathā tvamapi vettha ha||

There is nothing else that is more sinful than women. Verily, women are the root of all evils. That is certainly known to you, O Narada.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.13

समाज्ञातानृद्धिमतः प्रतिरूपान् वशे स्थितान्। पतीनन्तरमासाद्य नालं नार्यः प्रतीक्षितुम्॥

samājñātānṛddhimataḥ pratirūpān vaśe sthitān| patīnantaramāsādya nālaṃ nāryaḥ pratīkṣitum||

Women even when having husbands of fame and wealth, of handsome features and completely obedient to them, are prepared to disregard them if they get the opportunity.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.14

असद्धर्मस्त्वयं स्त्रीणामस्माकं भवति प्रभो। पापीयसो नरान् यद् वै लज्जां त्यक्त्वा भजामहे॥१४

asaddharmastvayaṃ strīṇāmasmākaṃ bhavati prabho| pāpīyaso narān yad vai lajjāṃ tyaktvā bhajāmahe||14

This, O powerful one, is a sinful disposition with us women, casting off modesty, we seek the companionship of men of sinful habits and intentions.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.15

स्त्रियं हि यः प्रार्थयते संनिकर्ष च गच्छति। ईषच्च कुरुते सेवां तमेवेच्छन्ति योषितः॥

striyaṃ hi yaḥ prārthayate saṃnikarṣa ca gacchati| īṣacca kurute sevāṃ tamevecchanti yoṣitaḥ||

Women show a liking for those men who court them, who approach their presence and who respectfully serve them to even a slight extent.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.16

अनर्थित्वान्मनुष्याणां भयात् परिजनस्य च। मर्यादायाममर्यादाः स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु॥

anarthitvānmanuṣyāṇāṃ bhayāt parijanasya ca| maryādāyāmamaryādāḥ striyastiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu||

Through want of solicitation by persons of the other sex, or fear of relatives, women, who are naturally impatient of all control, do not transgress those that have been ordained for them, and remain by the side of their husbands.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.17

नासां कश्चिदगम्योऽस्ति नासां वयसि निश्चयः। विरूपं रूपवन्तं वा पुमानित्येव भुजते॥

nāsāṃ kaścidagamyo'sti nāsāṃ vayasi niścayaḥ| virūpaṃ rūpavantaṃ vā pumānityeva bhujate||

There is none whom they cannot admit to their favours. They never consider about the age of the person they are prepared to favour. Ugly or handsome, if only the person happens to belong to the opposite sex, women are ready to enjoy his companionship.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.18

न भयान्नाप्यनुक्रोशान्नार्थहेतोः कथंचन। न ज्ञातिकुलसम्बन्धात् स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु॥

na bhayānnāpyanukrośānnārthahetoḥ kathaṃcana| na jñātikulasambandhāt striyastiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu||

That women remain faithful to their husbands is due not to their fear of sin, nor to mercy, nor to riches, nor to the affection that originates in their hearts for kinsmen and children.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.19

यौवने वर्तमानानां मृष्टाभरणवाससाम्। नारीणां स्वैरवृत्तीनां स्पृहयन्ति कुलस्त्रियः॥

yauvane vartamānānāṃ mṛṣṭābharaṇavāsasām| nārīṇāṃ svairavṛttīnāṃ spṛhayanti kulastriyaḥ||

Women living in the respectable families envy the condition of those members of their sex who are young and welladorned with jewels and gems and that lead a free life.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.20

याश्च शश्वद् बहुमता रक्ष्यन्ते दयिताः स्त्रियः। अपि ताः सम्प्रसज्जन्ते कुब्जान्धजडवामनैः॥

yāśca śaśvad bahumatā rakṣyante dayitāḥ striyaḥ| api tāḥ samprasajjante kubjāndhajaḍavāmanaiḥ||

Even those women who are loved by their husbands and treated with great respect, are seen to confer their favours upon men who are humpbacked, who are blind, who are idiots or who are dwarfs.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.21

पङ्गुष्वथ च देवर्षे ये चान्ये कुत्सिता नराः। स्त्रीणामगम्यो लोकेऽस्मिन् नास्ति कश्चिन्महामुने।।२१

paṅguṣvatha ca devarṣe ye cānye kutsitā narāḥ| strīṇāmagamyo loke'smin nāsti kaścinmahāmune||21

Women may be seen to like the companionship of even those men who are inert or those men who are ugly to look at, O great Rishi, there is no man in this world whom women may consider as unfit for companionship!

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.22

यदि पुंसां गतिर्ब्रह्मन् कथंचित्रोपपद्यते। अप्यन्योन्यं प्रवर्तन्ते न हि तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु॥ अलाभात् पुरुषाणां हि भयात् परिजनस्य च। वधबन्धभयाच्चापि स्वयं गुप्ता भवन्ति ताः॥

yadi puṃsāṃ gatirbrahman kathaṃcitropapadyate| apyanyonyaṃ pravartante na hi tiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu|| alābhāt puruṣāṇāṃ hi bhayāt parijanasya ca| vadhabandhabhayāccāpi svayaṃ guptā bhavanti tāḥ||

Through inability to obtain persons of the opposite sex, or fear of relatives or fear of death and imprisonment, women remain, of themselves under control.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.23

चलस्वभावा दुःसेव्या दुर्गाह्या भावतस्तथा। प्राज्ञस्य पुरुषस्येह यथा वाचस्तथा स्त्रियः॥

calasvabhāvā duḥsevyā durgāhyā bhāvatastathā| prājñasya puruṣasyeha yathā vācastathā striyaḥ||

They are highly fickle, for they always hanker after new companions. On account of their nature being unintelligible, they are incapable of being kept in obedience by loving treatment. Their nature is such that they are incapable of being controlled when bent upon transgression. Indeed, women are like the words uttered by the wise.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.24

नाग्निस्तृप्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधिः। नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः॥

nāgnistṛpyati kāṣṭhānāṃ nāpagānāṃ mahodadhiḥ| nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṃ na puṃsāṃ vāmalocanāḥ||

Fire is never satiated with fuel. Ocean can never be filled with the waters that the rivers bring to him. The destroyer is never satiated with killing even all living creatures. Likewise, women are never satiated with men.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.25

इदमन्यच्च देवर्षे रहस्यं सर्वयोषिताम्। दृष्ट्वैव पुरुषं हृद्यं योनिः प्रक्लिद्यते स्त्रियाः॥

idamanyacca devarṣe rahasyaṃ sarvayoṣitām| dṛṣṭvaiva puruṣaṃ hṛdyaṃ yoniḥ praklidyate striyāḥ||

This, O celestial Rishi, is another mystery about women. As soon as they see a man of beautiful and charming features, unfailing signs of desire appear on their body.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.26

कामानामपि दातारं कर्तारं मनसां प्रियम्। रक्षितारं न मृष्यन्ति स्वभतार्रमलं स्त्रियः॥

kāmānāmapi dātāraṃ kartāraṃ manasāṃ priyam| rakṣitāraṃ na mṛṣyanti svabhatārramalaṃ striyaḥ||

They never show sufficient regard for even such husbands as satisfy all their wishes, as always do what is agreeable to them, and as protect them from want and danger.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.27

न कामभोगान् विपुलान् नालंकारान् न संश्रयान्। तथैव बहु मन्यन्ते यथा रत्यामनुग्रहम्॥

na kāmabhogān vipulān nālaṃkārān na saṃśrayān| tathaiva bahu manyante yathā ratyāmanugraham||

Women never prize even profuse articles of enjoyment or ornaments or other delightful things so much as they do the companionship of persons of the opposite sex,

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.28

अन्तकः पवनो मृत्युः पातालं वडवामुखम्। क्षुरधारा विषं सर्पो वह्निरित्येकत: स्त्रियः॥

antakaḥ pavano mṛtyuḥ pātālaṃ vaḍavāmukham| kṣuradhārā viṣaṃ sarpo vahnirityekata: striyaḥ||

The destroyer, the god of wind, death the nether regions, the equine mouth that roves through the ocean, vomiting ceaseless flames of fire, the sharpness of the razor, dreadful poison, the snake and Fire all these exist in a state of union in the woman.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)

MBh 9 38.29

यतश्च भूतानि महान्ति पञ्च यतश्च लोका विहिता विधात्रा। स्तदैव दोषाः प्रमदासु नारद॥

yataśca bhūtāni mahānti pañca yataśca lokā vihitā vidhātrā| stadaiva doṣāḥ pramadāsu nārada||

Indeed from that eternal Brahma whence the five great elements have originated whence the Creator Brahman has ordained the universe and whence, indeed, men have sprung, have women sprung into existence. At that time, again, ONarada, when women were created, these faults that I have described were planted in them.

— tr. M.N. Dutt (1891–96) (public domain)