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 ।। एवमेतासु रक्षा वै शक्या कर्तु महात्मभि: । अन्यथा राजशार्दूल न शक्या रक्षितुं स्त्रिय:,नृपश्रेष्ठी महामनस्वी पुरुषोंद्वारा ही ऐसी स्त्रियोंकी इस प्रकार रक्षा की जा सकती है; अन्यथा स्त्रियोंकी रक्षा असम्भव 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 ||
Vipula said: “But women who are corrupt in conduct and unchaste become destroyers of a family line; sin alone continually dwells in their minds. O lord of men, such women can be recognized by the evil marks that arise along with their very bodies. In this way, protection in regard to such women can indeed be undertaken by great-souled men; otherwise, O tiger among kings, it is not possible to safeguard women.”
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.