Shloka 36
Ādi Parva, Adhyāya 158 — Aṅgāraparṇa-saṃvāda and Gaṅgā-tīrtha Saṃghaṭṭa
Encounter at the Gaṅgā ford
न चाप्यधर्म: कल्याण बहुपत्नीकृतां नृणाम् । स्त्रीणामधर्म: सुमहान् भर्तु: पूर्वस्य लड्घने,कल्याणस्वरूप हृदयेश्वर! बहुत-सी स्त्रियोंसे विवाह करनेवाले पुरुषोंको भी पाप नहीं लगता। परंतु स्त्रियोंको अपने पूर्वपतिका उल्लंघन करनेपर बड़ा भारी पाप लगता है
na cāpy adharmaḥ kalyāṇa bahupatnīkṛtāṃ nṛṇām | strīṇām adharmaḥ sumahān bhartuḥ pūrvasya laṅghane ||
The brāhmaṇa said: “O noble one, it is not considered unrighteous for men to take many wives. But for a woman, transgressing her former husband is deemed a very great sin.”
ब्राह्मण उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse contrasts social-ethical standards: polygyny in men is presented as not inherently adharma, while a woman’s violation of fidelity to her prior husband is described as a grave adharma—highlighting asymmetrical marital norms discussed in the narrative.
A brāhmaṇa speaker is instructing or admonishing an addressed noble person, framing the issue in terms of dharma by stating what is (and is not) considered sinful conduct regarding marriage and fidelity.