Shloka 21
Aṣṭāvakra and the Woman: Disclosure, Permission, and Marital Resolution (अनुशासन पर्व, अध्याय २२)
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने । पुत्राश्न॒ स्थाविरे काले नास्ति स्त्रीणां स्वतन्त्रता
pitā rakṣati kaumāre bhartā rakṣati yauvanae | putrā rakṣanti sthavire kāle nāsti strīṇāṁ svatantratā ||
女子幼时由父亲护持；青春之年由丈夫护持；年老之时由儿子护持。故依此社会正法之常则，女子被说为不以独立之身行事，而居于家族守护者的庇荫之下。
सअद्टावक्र उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse presents a traditional dharma-based model of guardianship: a woman is expected to be under the protection of father, husband, and sons at different life stages, implying limited personal autonomy within that social framework.
Within Anuśāsana Parva’s instructional setting, the speaker states a rule-like maxim about household and social conduct, describing who is responsible for a woman’s protection across childhood, youth, and old age.