Shloka 10
Kīcaka-vadha-pratisaṃjñā: Rumor in Matsya and the Kaurava Scouts’ Report (कीचकवध-प्रतिसंज्ञा)
न हि त्वामुत्सहे वक्तुं स्वयं गन्धर्वरक्षिताम् | स्त्रियास्त्वदोषस्तां वक्तुमतस्त्वां प्रब्रवीम्पहम्
na hi tvām utsahe vaktuṁ svayaṁ gandharvarakṣitām | striyās tv adoṣas tāṁ vaktum atas tvāṁ prabravīmy aham |
ヴァイシャンパーヤナは言った。「そなたはガンダルヴァたちの加護のもとにある。ゆえに男である私は、みずから直接そなたに語りかけることをはばかる。だが女を介してその言葉が告げられるなら、不作法とはならぬ。ゆえに我が妻を通して、この言葉をそなたに伝える。」
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights dhārmic restraint in speech: when direct address could be socially or ethically improper—especially toward a woman said to be under divine/otherworldly protection—one should choose a blameless, socially acceptable channel of communication.
The speaker explains why he will not speak directly to the woman described as ‘protected by Gandharvas.’ Instead, he relays the message through his wife, presenting this as the proper and faultless way to communicate in that situation.