Shloka 14
Bhaṅgāśvanopākhyāna — On comparative affection in strī–puruṣa union (भङ्गाश्वनोपाख्यानम्)
मृदुत्वं च तनुत्वं च विक्लवत्वं तथैव च । स्त्रीगुणा ऋषिश्ि: प्रोक्ता धर्मतत्त्वार्थदर्शिभि:,“धर्मके तत्त्वको देखने और जाननेवाले ऋषियोंने मृदुता, कृशता और व्याकुलता--ये सत्रीके गुण बताये हैं
mṛdutvaṃ ca tanutvaṃ ca viklavatvaṃ tathaiva ca | strīguṇā ṛṣibhiḥ proktā dharmatattvārthadarśibhiḥ ||
Bhīṣma berkata: “Kelembutan, kerapuhan (kelangsingan), dan juga rasa gentar atau kegelisahan—itulah yang dihuraikan sebagai sifat-sifat wanita oleh para resi yang melihat hakikat dan makna dharma.”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a traditional dharma-oriented characterization: sages who claim insight into dharma describe certain traits—gentleness, delicacy, and wavering/timidity—as typical feminine qualities, within Bhishma’s didactic instruction.
In the Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, Bhishma continues a discourse on dharma and social conduct, citing what earlier sages have taught about commonly attributed qualities of women.