Shloka 21
Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने । पुत्राश्न॒ स्थाविरे काले नास्ति स्त्रीणां स्वतन्त्रता,कुमारावस्थामें पिता इसकी रक्षा करते हैं, जवानीमें वह पतिके संरक्षणमें रहती है और बुढ़ापेमें पुत्र उसकी देखभाल करते हैं। इस प्रकार स्त्रियोंके लिये स्वतन्त्रता नहीं है
pitā rakṣati kaumāre bhartā rakṣati yauvanae | putrā rakṣanti sthavire kāle nāsti strīṇāṁ svatantratā ||
In childhood a woman is protected by her father; in youth she is protected by her husband; and in old age she is protected by her sons. Thus, in this normative statement of social dharma, women are said not to act independently but to live under the guardianship of family protectors.
सअद्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a traditional dharma-based model of guardianship: a woman is expected to be under the protection of father, husband, and sons at different life stages, implying limited personal autonomy within that social framework.
Within Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, the speaker states a rule-like maxim about household and social conduct, describing who is responsible for a woman’s protection across childhood, youth, and old age.