Shloka 14
Babhruvāhana’s Lament and Appeal for Expiation (प्रायश्चित्त-याचना)
नापराधो<स्ति सुभगे नराणां बहुभार्यता । प्रमदानां भवत्येष मा ते5भूद बुद्धिरीदृशी
na aparādho 'sti subhage narāṇāṁ bahu-bhāryatā | pramadānāṁ bhavaty eṣa mā te 'bhūd buddhir īdṛśī ||
Vaiśampāyana dit : «Ô dame fortunée, on ne tient pas pour faute qu’un homme ait plusieurs épouses. Mais chez une femme, une telle conduite—entretenir des relations avec plusieurs hommes—est, en vérité, tenue pour blâmable et pécheresse. Ne laisse donc pas ton esprit devenir ainsi (dur ou égaré).»
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse articulates a normative social-ethical distinction: multiple wives for men is presented as socially non-culpable, whereas multiple male partners for women is framed as blameworthy; it concludes by urging the addressed woman to avoid a harsh or misguided mindset arising from this issue.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, reports a counsel addressed to a woman called “Subhagā,” explaining prevailing standards of marital conduct and advising her not to adopt an unwholesome or severe attitude in response.