Shloka 42
Diti’s Puṁsavana Vow, Indra’s Intervention, and the Birth of the Maruts
न हि कश्चित्प्रिय: स्त्रीणामञ्जसा स्वाशिषात्मनाम् । पतिं पुत्रं भ्रातरं वा घ्नन्त्यर्थे घातयन्ति च ॥ ४२ ॥
na hi kaścit priyaḥ strīṇām añjasā svāśiṣātmanām patiṁ putraṁ bhrātaraṁ vā ghnanty arthe ghātayanti ca
Um ihre eigenen Interessen zu befriedigen, gehen Frauen mit Männern um, als seien diese ihnen das Liebste, doch in Wirklichkeit ist ihnen niemand lieb. Frauen gelten als sehr heilig, doch für ihre eigenen Interessen können sie sogar ihre Ehemänner, Söhne oder Brüder töten oder von anderen töten lassen.
A woman’s nature has been particularly well studied by Kaśyapa Muni. Women are self-interested by nature, and therefore they should be protected by all means so that their natural inclination to be too self-interested will not be manifested. Women need to be protected by men. A woman should be cared for by her father in her childhood, by her husband in her youth and by her grown sons in her old age. This is the injunction of Manu, who says that a woman should not be given independence at any stage. Women must be cared for so that they will not be free to manifest their natural tendency for gross selfishness. There have been many cases, even in the present day, in which women have killed their husbands to take advantage of their insurance policies. This is not a criticism of women but a practical study of their nature. Such natural instincts of a woman or a man are manifested only in the bodily conception of life. When either a man or a woman is advanced in spiritual consciousness, the bodily conception of life practically vanishes. We should see all women as spiritual units ( ahaṁ brahmāsmi ), whose only duty is to satisfy Kṛṣṇa. Then the influences of the different modes of material nature, which result from one’s possessing a material body, will not act.
FAQs
This verse warns that when a person is driven by selfish desires, even close relationships can be sacrificed for personal gain—so one should be vigilant about motives and attachment.
In the narrative, Indra is dealing with the danger posed by Diti’s vow and pregnancy; he speaks harshly to highlight how desire-driven intentions can lead to grave harm, urging caution and discernment.
Examine motivations, avoid exploiting relationships for personal benefit, and cultivate integrity and devotion (bhakti) so that actions are guided by dharma rather than selfish desire.