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 ||
「王子よ、よく思い巡らして私ははっきり悟りました。夫にのみ尽くす妻である私のような者は、あなたのような他の男と語り合うべきではありません。けれどもここには、あなたの言葉に答えられる他の男も女もいないのです。」
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.