Shloka 9
त्यज त्यजाशु दुष्प्रज्ञे मत्क्षेत्रादाहितं परै: । नाहं त्वां भस्मसात् कुर्यां स्त्रियं सान्तानिकेऽसति ॥ ९ ॥
tyaja tyajāśu duṣprajñe mat-kṣetrād āhitaṁ paraiḥ nāhaṁ tvāṁ bhasmasāt kuryāṁ striyaṁ sāntānike ’sati
Bṛhaspati said: O foolish woman! The womb that was meant to be my field has been impregnated by another; deliver the child at once—deliver it at once. After the birth I shall not burn you to ashes; though you were unchaste, you longed for a son, therefore I will not punish you.
Tārā was married to Bṛhaspati, and therefore as a chaste woman she should have been impregnated by him. But instead she preferred to be impregnated by Soma, the moon-god, and therefore she was unchaste. Although Bṛhaspati accepted Tārā from Brahmā, when he saw that she was pregnant he wanted her to deliver a son immediately. Tārā certainly very much feared her husband, and she thought she might be punished after giving birth. Thus Bṛhaspati assured her that he would not punish her, for although she was unchaste and had become pregnant illicitly, he wanted a son.
FAQs
This verse shows the seriousness of lineage and marital propriety, condemning deceit in matters of conception while also restraining violent punishment.
In the narrative context, Yayāti discovers a violation of marital trust connected with progeny and orders the wrongdoing to be renounced, while stating he will not harm her because she is a woman.
It emphasizes honesty and responsibility in intimate relationships and family decisions, along with the principle of responding to wrongdoing without cruelty.