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
你这个乞丐！既然你不明白自己的地位，为什么要不必要地讲这么多话？难道你们大家不像乌鸦一样在我们家等着，依靠我们维持生计吗？
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.