Shloka 30
Cyavana’s Water-Vow and the Ethics of Cohabitation (स्नेह-सम्वास-धर्मः)
भीष्म उवाच दारा इत्युच्यते लोके नाम्नैकेन परंतप । प्रोक्तेन चैव नाम्नायं विशेष: सुमहान् भवेत्
bhīṣma uvāca | dārā ity ucyate loke nāmnaikena parantapa | proktena caiva nāmnāyaṁ viśeṣaḥ sumahān bhavet ||
ภีษมะกล่าวว่า “โอ้ผู้เผาผลาญศัตรู ในถ้อยคำของชาวโลก สตรีทั้งปวงถูกเรียกด้วยนามเดียวว่า ‘ดารา’ (ภรรยา) แต่เพียงเพราะนามนั้นเมื่อถูกใช้เช่นนั้นเอง ความแตกต่างอันใหญ่หลวงก็ถูกยอมรับขึ้น”
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
Bhishma points out that although society uses a single generic term (“dārā”) for women/wives, the way such labels are applied can create or reflect major social distinctions. The verse introduces a discussion on differentiation in offspring and social classification connected with women of different varṇas.
In Anuśāsana Parva, Bhishma continues instructing the king (Yudhiṣṭhira) on dharma. Here he begins a topic by noting the common designation for women and then signals that significant distinctions are made on that basis, setting up the ensuing explanation about differences among sons born from women of the four varṇas.