Shloka 13
Vipula’s Guru-Obedience, Divine Flowers, and the Peril of Others’ Oaths (विपुलोपाख्यानम्—पुष्पप्राप्तिः शपथ-प्रसङ्गश्च)
सत्कृतासत्कृताश्चापि विकुर्वन्ति मन: सदा । कस्ता: शक्तो रक्षितुं स्थादिति मे संशयो महान्
satkṛtāsatkṛtāś cāpi vikurvanti manaḥ sadā | kastāḥ śakto rakṣituṃ sthād iti me saṃśayo mahān, mahābāho |
Yudhiṣṭhira nói: “Dù được tôn kính hay bị khinh rẻ, phụ nữ vẫn luôn làm tâm trí đàn ông xao động. Vậy ai mới đủ sức canh giữ và bảo hộ họ? Đó là mối nghi lớn của ta, hỡi bậc dũng tay.”
युधिछिर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames an ethical problem: external social measures (honor or dishonor) do not by themselves prevent mental agitation; therefore the deeper issue is mastery of the mind and responsible conduct, not merely controlling others.
Yudhiṣṭhira, addressing a ‘mighty-armed’ interlocutor, voices a doubt about how women can be ‘protected,’ observing that men’s minds are stirred regardless of how women are treated, and seeks guidance on the dharmic resolution.