Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 16
Yayāti, Devayānī, Śarmiṣṭhā, and the Exchange of Youth: The Unsatisfied Nature of Desire
आत्मवृत्तमविज्ञाय कत्थसे बहु भिक्षुकि । किं न प्रतीक्षसेऽस्माकं गृहान् बलिभुजो यथा ॥ १६ ॥
ātma-vṛttam avijñāya katthase bahu bhikṣuki kiṁ na pratīkṣase ’smākaṁ gṛhān balibhujo yathā
Đồ ăn mày! Vì ngươi không hiểu vị trí của mình, tại sao ngươi lại nói nhiều một cách không cần thiết như vậy? Chẳng phải tất cả các ngươi đều chầu chực ở nhà chúng ta, dựa vào chúng ta để kiếm sống như những con quạ sao?
Crows have no independent life; they fully depend on the remnants of foodstuffs thrown by householders into the garbage tank. Therefore, because a brāhmaṇa depends on his disciples, when Śarmiṣṭhā was heavily rebuked by Devayānī she charged Devayānī with belonging to a family of crowlike beggars. It is the nature of women to fight verbally at even a slight provocation. As we see from this incident, this has been their nature for a long, long time.
FAQs
Devayānī rebukes Śarmiṣṭhā, saying that without knowing her own proper conduct she boasts, and she insults her by comparing her to those who wait at houses for alms.
In the context of their rivalry and social tension, Devayānī becomes angry and humiliates Śarmiṣṭhā with cutting words, escalating the conflict that drives the chapter’s events.
It warns against prideful speech and judging others harshly; restraint, humility, and respectful communication prevent conflicts from growing.