Shloka 22
Strī-satkāra (On honoring women) — Mahābhārata 13.46
किंतु दुराचारिणी असती स्त्रियाँ कुलका नाश करनेवाली होती हैं, उनके मनमें सदा पाप ही बसता है। नरेश्वर! फिर ऐसी स्त्रियोंको उनके शरीरके साथ ही उत्पन्न हुए बुरे लक्षणोंसे पहचाना जा सकता है ।।
kintu durācāriṇyo 'satyaḥ striyaḥ kulakā nāśa-karaṇyo bhavanti, tāsāṃ manasi sadā pāpam eva vasati | nareśvara! punaḥ tādṛśīḥ striyaḥ śarīreṇa sahaiva utpannaiḥ dur-lakṣaṇaiḥ paricetuṃ śakyāḥ || evam etāsu rakṣā vai śakyā kartuṃ mahātmabhiḥ | anyathā rājaśārdūla na śakyā rakṣituṃ striyaḥ ||
Sinabi ni Vipula: “Ngunit ang mga babaeng masama ang asal at di-malinis ay nagiging tagapuksa ng angkan; kasalanan lamang ang laging nananahan sa kanilang isipan. O panginoon ng mga tao, ang gayong mga babae ay nakikilala sa masasamang tandang isinilang kasama ng kanilang katawan. Sa ganitong paraan, ang pag-iingat sa gayong mga babae ay maaaring gampanan ng mga lalaking dakila ang loob; kung hindi, O tigre sa mga hari, hindi maaaring mapangalagaan ang mga babae.”
विपुल उवाच
Educational Q&A
The passage frames a moral warning: unchaste or corrupt conduct is portrayed as socially destructive (especially to lineage), and it emphasizes vigilant discernment and responsible guardianship by noble, self-controlled persons; without such disciplined oversight, protection is said to be difficult.
Vipula addresses a king (styled nareśvara, rājaśārdūla), describing how certain women of bad conduct may be identified by ‘bad signs’ and asserting that only great-souled men can effectively provide protection in such cases; otherwise safeguarding is deemed impossible.