Shloka 2
Setubandha-Niścaya (Decision for the Causeway) and Vānara-Senā Saṃniveśa — Bridge Strategy and Alliance Consolidation
बुद्धयाभिजानामि नरेन्द्रपुत्र न मादृशी त्वामभिभाष्टमर्हति । न त्वेह वक्तास्ति तवेह वाक्य- मन्यो नरो वाप्यथवापि नारी,“राजकुमार! मैं बुद्धिसे सोच-विचारकर भलीभाँति समझती हूँ कि मुझ-जैसी पतिपरायणा स्त्रीको तुम-जैसे पर पुरुषसे वार्तालाप नहीं करना चाहिये; परंतु यहाँ कोई दूसरा ऐसा पुरुष अथवा स्त्री नहीं है जो तुम्हारी बातका उत्तर दे सके
buddhyābhijānāmi narendraputra na mādṛśī tvām abhibhāṣṭam arhati | na tveha vaktāsti taveha vākyaṁ anyo naro vāpy athavāpi nārī ||
“O prince, I understand clearly after careful reflection: a wife devoted to her husband, such as I, ought not to converse with another man like you. Yet here there is no other man or woman who can respond to your words.”
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse foregrounds dharma as reflective self-restraint: a married woman devoted to her husband recognizes social-ethical limits on intimate speech with another man, yet also acknowledges situational duty—when no one else can answer, she may respond to prevent a breakdown of communication and responsibility.
A woman addresses a prince, stating that propriety would normally forbid her from conversing with him, but the immediate circumstance leaves no alternative respondent; therefore she speaks despite her hesitation, framing her reply as compelled by necessity rather than desire.