Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
त्वयापि सुप्यतां भद्ने रजनी ह्ूतिवर्तते । तत्पश्चात् उज्ज्वल एवं प्रकाशमान शय्यापर सोते हुए ऋषिने उस वृद्धासे कहा--“भद्रे! अब तुम भी सो जाओ। रात अधिक बीत चली है'
tvayāpi supyatāṃ bhadre rajanī hy ativartate | tatpaścāt ujjvala evaṃ prakāśamānaśayyāparaḥ sote hue ṛṣiṇe us vṛddhāse kahā—“bhadre! aba tuma bhī so jāo | rāta adhik bīt calī hai”
Aṣṭāvakra said, “O gentle lady, you too should sleep; the night is indeed passing away.” After this, the sage, lying upon a bright and shining bed, addressed the elderly woman: “Dear one, now you also go to sleep; much of the night has already gone by.”
सअद्टावक्र उवाच
The verse highlights considerate conduct (sadācāra): even in conversation or instruction, one should be mindful of time and the comfort of others, gently urging rest when the night is far spent.
Aṣṭāvakra addresses a woman respectfully as “bhadre,” telling her to sleep because much of the night has passed; the scene is set with the sage reclining on a bright, shining bed while speaking to an elderly woman.