Shloka 24

Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)

Devanagari script

स्‍त्रीणां तु पतिदायाद्यमुपभोगफल स्मृतम्‌ | नापहारं स्त्रिय: कुर्यु: पतिवित्तात्‌ कथंचन,स्त्रियोंको पतिके धनसे जो हिस्सा मिलता है, उसका उपभोग ही (उसके लिये) फल माना गया है। पतिके दिये हुए स्त्रीधनसे पुत्र आदिको कुछ नहीं लेना चाहिये

Transliteration

strīṇāṃ tu patidāyādyam upabhogaphalaṃ smṛtam | nāpahāraṃ striyaḥ kuryuḥ pativittāt kathaṃcana ||

Translation

Bhishma said: For women, the portion that comes to them from the husband’s property is traditionally understood to yield its fruit chiefly in enjoyment and use. Therefore, women should never be deprived in any way of what belongs to them from the husband’s wealth; and what is given as a woman’s own property is not to be taken away by sons or other heirs.

Word by Word

स्त्रीणाम्of women

तुbut/indeed

पति-दायाद्यम्that which is to be given by the husband (husband-given share/property)

उपभोग-फलम्the fruit consisting in enjoyment (right of use)

स्मृतम्is considered/remembered (as)

नnot

अपहारम्taking away/appropriation

स्त्रियःwomen

कुर्युःshould do/should make

पति-वित्तात्from the husband's wealth

कथंचनin any way/at all

Speaker

भीष्म उवाच

Characters & Entities

Bhishma

women (striyaḥ)

husband (pati)

husband's wealth/property (pativitta)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Geographic Context

Sandhi Notes