Shloka 19
यौवने वर्तमानानां मृष्टाभरणवाससाम् | नारीणां स्वैरवृत्तीनां स्मृहयन्ति कुलस्त्रिय:,जो जवान हैं, सुन्दर गहने और अच्छे कपड़े पहनती हैं, ऐसी स्वेच्छाचारिणी स्त्रियोंके चरित्रको देखकर कितनी ही कुलवती स्त्रियाँ भी वैसी ही बननेकी इच्छा करने लगती हैं
yauvane vartamānānāṁ mṛṣṭābharaṇavāsasām | nārīṇāṁ svairavṛttīnāṁ smṛhayanti kulastriyaḥ ||
Bhishma bersabda: Melihat wanita yang sedang mekar usia muda, berhias dengan perhiasan dan pakaian indah, serta hidup menurut kehendak sendiri tanpa batas—bahkan wanita daripada keluarga mulia pun mula merindui cara hidup sedemikian.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma highlights the ethical danger of social imitation: when self-willed, pleasure-driven conduct is made attractive through youth, adornment, and display, even respectable people may begin to desire and emulate it. The verse warns that outward glamour can normalize adharma and weaken established standards of restraint.
In Anushasana Parva, Bhishma is instructing Yudhishthira on dharma and proper conduct. Here he comments on how the visible behavior of certain women can influence the aspirations and behavior of women from good families, emphasizing the power of example within society.