Shloka 706
Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
कौतूहलं समाविष्ट: प्रविवेश गृहं द्विज: । तत्पश्चात् वे सातों तरुणी स्त्रियाँ बोलीं--/भगवन्! आप घरके भीतर प्रवेश करें।' ऋषिके मनमें उन सुन्दरियोंके तथा उस घरके विषयमें कौतूहल पैदा हो गया था; अतः उन्होंने उस घरमें प्रवेश किया
kautūhalaṃ samāviṣṭaḥ praviveśa gṛhaṃ dvijaḥ | tatpaścāt tāḥ sapta taruṇyaḥ striya ūcuḥ— “bhagavan! bhavān gṛhasya bhitaraṃ praviśatu” | ṛṣeḥ manasi tāsu sundarīṣu tasmin gṛhe ca viṣaye kautūhalaṃ jātaṃ; ataḥ sa tasmin gṛhe praviṣṭaḥ |
Dikuasai rasa ingin tahu, brahmin itu pun memasuki rumah. Kemudian tujuh wanita muda berkata, “Wahai tuan yang mulia, silakan masuk ke dalam.” Hati sang resi telah terusik oleh kehairanan terhadap para jelita itu dan terhadap rumah tersebut; maka dia pun masuk.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse sets up an ethical test: even a learned ascetic can be drawn by curiosity, so one should guard the senses and mind, weighing consequences before entering potentially compromising situations.
A brahmin/sage, intrigued by a house and seven young women, is invited inside; his curiosity leads him to enter, preparing the ground for a moral or dharmic episode that follows.