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 ||
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「幸いなる婦人よ、男が多くの妻を持つことは咎とは見なされぬ。だが女がそのように—多くの男と関係を結ぶことは—まことに非難され、罪とされる。ゆえに、そなたの心をそのように（苛烈に、あるいは迷いに）してはならぬ。」
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.