Aṣṭāvakra–Strī-saṃvāda: Dhṛti, hospitality, and a dispute on autonomy
न भ्रातृनू न च भर्तारें न च पुत्रान् न देवरान् । लीलायन्त्य: कुलं घ्नन्ति कूलानीव सरिद्वरा: । दोषान् सर्वाश्न मत्वा55शु प्रजापतिरभाषत
na bhrātṝnū na ca bhartāraṁ na ca putrān na devarān | līlāyantyaḥ kulaṁ ghnanti kūlānīva saridvarāḥ | doṣān sarvāśn matvāśu prajāpatir abhāṣata ||
“Mereka tidak menghiraukan saudara lelaki, tidak menghiraukan suami; tidak menghiraukan anak lelaki, tidak menghiraukan adik ipar. Seakan-akan bermain, mereka membinasakan sebuah keluarga—seperti sungai besar menghakis tebingnya. Menyedari sepenuhnya segala cela itu, Prajāpati pun segera bersabda.”
अष्टावक्र उवाच
Unchecked misconduct—portrayed as heedless ‘play’—can ruin an entire lineage, harming even the closest relations; therefore one should recognize such doṣas early and restrain them to protect dharma and family stability.
Aṣṭāvakra describes how destructive tendencies can sweep through a household, likening them to a strong river cutting away its banks; seeing these faults clearly, Prajāpati is said to respond immediately with instruction.