Shloka 21
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने । पुत्राश्न॒ स्थाविरे काले नास्ति स्त्रीणां स्वतन्त्रता
pitā rakṣati kaumāre bhartā rakṣati yauvanae | putrā rakṣanti sthavire kāle nāsti strīṇāṁ svatantratā ||
Dans l’enfance, la femme est protégée par son père ; dans la jeunesse, par son époux ; et dans la vieillesse, par ses fils. Ainsi, selon cette énonciation normative du dharma social, on dit que les femmes n’agissent pas de façon indépendante, mais vivent sous la garde des protecteurs de la famille.
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.