Mahābhārata · Adhyāya 13.59
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13.59.1
श्रुतं बलं प्रभावश्च योषितां मुनिसत्तम ।
एकस्य बहुभार्यस्य धर्ममिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥ १३.५९.१ ॥
O best of sages, I have heard of the strength and influence of women. I wish to know the dharma of one man who has many wives.
13.59.2
बहुभार्यासु सक्तस्य नारीभोगेषु गेहिनः ।
ऋतौ विमुञ्चमानस्य सांनिध्ये भ्रूणहा स्मृतः ॥ १३.५९.२ ॥
A householder attached to many wives, given to the pleasures of women, who holds aloof in the fertile season, is declared a killer of an embryo.
13.59.3
वृद्धां वन्ध्यां सुव्रता च मृतापत्यामपुष्पिणीम् ।
कन्यां च बहुपुत्रां च वर्जयन्मुच्यते भयात् ॥ १३.५९.३ ॥
One who avoids an old woman, a barren one, one devoted to vows, one whose offspring have died, one who does not menstruate, a maiden, or one with many sons, is released from fear.
13.59.4
व्याधितो बन्धनस्थो वा प्रवासेष्वथ पर्वसु ।
ऋतुकाले तु नारीणां भ्रूणहत्यां प्रमुञ्चति ॥ १३.५९.४ ॥
A man who is sick, or bound in fetters, or away on journeys, or on festival days — yet who in the fertile season lies with women — is released from the sin of killing an embryo.
13.59.5
वैश्यनारीषु वै जाताः परप्रेष्यासु वा सुताः ।
कस्य ते बन्धुदायादा भवन्ति हि महामुने ॥ १३.५९.५ ॥
Sons born of vaiśya women, or of women who serve others — O great sage, whose kinsmen and heirs are they?
13.59.6
पण्यस्त्रीषु प्रसूता ये यस्य स्त्री तस्य ते सुताः ।
क्रयाच्च कृत्रिमाः पुत्रा प्रदानाच्चैव दत्रिमाः ॥ १३.५९.६ ॥
Sons born to women who are bought and sold belong to the man whose wife she is. A son obtained by purchase is 'kṛtrima' (artificial), and one given as a gift is 'datrima' (given).
13.59.7
पण्यनारीष्वनियतः पुंसोऽर्थो वर्तते ध्रुवम् ।
अत्र चाहितगर्भायाः कस्य पुत्रं वदन्ति तम् ॥ १३.५९.७ ॥
Among women-for-hire, a man's self-interest surely lies. Here, of a woman who has conceived, whose son do they say he is?
13.59.8
तीर्थभूतासु नारीषु ज्ञायते योऽभिगच्छति ।
ऋतौ तस्य भवेद्गर्भो यं वा नारी न शङ्कते ॥ १३.५९.८ ॥
Among women who are like sacred places, he who has intercourse with her is known; the child conceived in her fertile season is his, or the one the woman does not suspect.
13.59.9
नराणां त्यजतां भार्यां कामक्रोधाद्गुणान्विताम् ।
अप्रसूतां प्रसूतां वा तेषां पृच्छामि निष्कृतिम् ॥ १३.५९.९ ॥
For men who abandon a virtuous wife out of desire and anger, whether she has borne no child or has borne one, I ask what expiation there is for them.
13.59.10
अपापां त्यजमानस्य साध्वीं मत्वा यमादितः ।
आत्मवंशस्वधर्मो वा त्यजतो निष्कृतिर्न तु ॥ १३.५९.१० ॥
For one who abandons a sinless, virtuous wife, having regarded her from the beginning as such by Yama's decree, there is no expiation, whether it be the duty of his own lineage or of the one who abandons.
13.59.11
यो नरस्त्यजते भार्या पुष्पिणीमप्रसूतिकाम् ।
स नष्टवंशः पितृभिर्युक्तस्त्यज्येत दैवतैः ॥ १३.५९.११ ॥
The man who abandons a menstruating, childless wife — his lineage is destroyed; though joined with the ancestors, he would be abandoned by the gods.
13.59.12
भार्यामपत्यसञ्जातां प्रसूतां पुत्रपौत्रिणीम् ।
पुत्रदारपरित्यागी न स प्राप्नोति निष्कृतिम् ॥ १३.५९.१२ ॥
He who abandons a wife who has conceived and borne a child, who has sons and grandsons — one who abandons son and wife — does not attain expiation.
13.59.13
एवं हि भार्यां त्यजतां नराणां नास्ति निष्कृतिः ।
नार्हन्ति प्रमदास्त्यक्तुं पुत्रपौत्रप्रतिष्ठिताः ॥ १३.५९.१३ ॥
Thus for men who abandon their wives there is no expiation; women established in sons and grandsons should not be abandoned.
13.59.14
कीदृशीं संत्यजन्भार्यां नरो दोषैर्न लिप्यते ।
एतदिच्छामि तत्वेन विज्ञातुमृषिसत्तम ॥ १३.५९.१४ ॥
What kind of wife, abandoned by a man, does not stain him with faults? I wish to know this truly, best of sages.
13.59.15
मोक्षधर्मस्थितानां तु अन्योन्यमनुजानताम् ।
भार्यापतीनां मुक्तानामधर्मो न विधीयते ॥ १३.५९.१५ ॥
For husbands and wives established in the dharma of liberation, who mutually consent and are released, no unrighteousness is prescribed.
13.59.16
अन्यसङ्गां गतापत्यां शूद्रगां परगामिनीम् ।
परीक्ष्य त्यजमानानां नराणां नास्ति पातकम् ॥ १३.५९.१६ ॥
For men who, having carefully examined a woman who is attached to another, has borne another's child, has gone to a śūdra, or goes to another man, and abandon her, there is no sin.
13.59.17
पातकेऽपि तु भर्तव्यौ द्वौ तु माता पिता तथा ॥ १३.५९.१७ ॥
Even in the case of sin, both mother and father must indeed be supported.
13.59.18
भार्यायां व्यभिचारिण्यां नरस्य त्यजतो रुषा ।
कथं धर्मोऽप्यधर्मो वा भवतीह महामते ॥ १३.५९.१८ ॥
When a wife is adulterous and a man abandons her in anger, how does this become dharma or adharma here, O great-minded one?
13.59.19
अनृतेऽपि हि सत्ये वा यो नारीं दूषितां त्यजेत् ।
अरक्षमाणः स्वां भार्यां नरो भवति भ्रूणहा ॥ १३.५९.१९ ॥
Whether the charge be false or true, the man who abandons a defiled woman, not protecting his own wife, becomes a killer of an embryo.
13.59.20
अपत्यहेतोर्या नारी भर्तारमतिलङ्घयेत् ।
लोलेन्द्रियेति सा रक्ष्या न सन्त्याज्या कथञ्चन ॥ १३.५९.२० ॥
If a woman, for the sake of offspring, transgresses her husband, she is to be protected even if she is called one of unrestrained senses; she must by no means be abandoned.
13.59.21
नद्यश्च नार्यश्च समस्वभावा ।
नैताः प्रमुञ्चन्ति नरावगाढाः।
स्रोतांसि नद्यो वहते निपातं ।
नारी रजोभिः पुनरेति शौचम् ॥ १३.५९.२१ ॥
Rivers and women are of like nature: they do not release the men who plunge into them. Rivers carry their currents downward; a woman regains purity again through her monthly flow.
13.59.22
एवं नार्यो न दुष्यन्ति व्यभिचारेऽपि भर्तृणाम् ।
मासिमासि भवेद्रागस्ततः शुद्धा भवन्त्युत ॥ १३.५९.२२ ॥
Thus women are not defiled even by adultery against their husbands. Month by month there is the menstrual flow, and through it they become pure again.
13.59.23
कानि तीर्थानि भगवन्नृणां देहाश्रितानि वै ।
तानि वै शंस भगवन्याथातथ्येन पृच्छतः ॥ १३.५९.२३ ॥
O revered one, which are the sacred fords that dwell in the bodies of men? O revered one, I ask in truth; declare them to me.
13.59.24
सर्वतीर्थेषु सर्वज्ञ किं तीर्थं परमं नृणाम् ।
यत्रोपस्पृश्य पूतो यो नरो भवति नित्यशः ॥ १३.५९.२४ ॥
O all-knowing one, among all the sacred fords, which is the supreme ford for men, in which a man who bathes becomes purified constantly?
13.59.25
देवर्षिपितृतीर्थानि ब्राह्मं मध्येऽथं वैष्णवम् ।
नृणां तीर्थानि पञ्चाहुः पाणौ सन्निहितानि वै ॥ १३.५९.२५ ॥
The fords of the gods, the sages and the ancestors, then the Brahmā-ford and, in the middle, the Viṣṇu-ford: five fords of men are said to lie present in the hand.
13.59.26
आद्यतीर्थं तु तीर्थानां वैष्णवो भाग उच्यते ।
यत्रोपस्पृश्य वर्णानां चतुर्णां वर्धते कुलम्।
पितृदैवतकार्याणि वर्धन्ते प्रेत्य चेह च ॥ १३.५९.२६ ॥
The first of the fords is called the Viṣṇu portion; by touching it the lineage of the four varṇas grows, and rites for ancestors and gods increase, both after death and here.
13.59.27
नराणां कामवृत्तानां या नार्यो निरवग्रहाः ।
यासामभिग्रहो नास्ति ता मे कथय नारद ॥ १३.५९.२७ ॥
Of the women who, with men who follow desire, are unrestrained and have no restraint on them — tell me about them, Nārada.
13.59.28
पाशुर्वैश्या नटी गोपी तान्तुकी तुन्नवायिकी ।
नारी किराती शबरी नर्तकी चानवग्रहा ॥ १३.५९.२८ ॥
Pāśu, the courtesan, the dancer, the cowherd woman, the weaver woman, the tailor woman, the woman, the Kirāta woman, the Śabarī and the female dancer — these are unrestrained.
13.59.29
एतासु जाता नारीषु सर्ववर्णेषु ये सुताः ।
केषु के बन्धुदायादा भवन्ति ऋषिसत्तम ॥ १३.५९.२९ ॥
The sons born among these women, in all the varṇas — best of sages, whose kinsmen and heirs do they become?
13.59.30
य एताः परिगृह्णन्ति तेषामेव हि ते सुताः ।
सर्वत्र तु प्रवृत्तासु बीजं नश्यति देहिनाम् ॥ १३.५९.३० ॥
Those who take these women are indeed their sons; but when one is given over to them everywhere, the seed of embodied beings is destroyed.
13.59.31
सर्वस्त्रीषु प्रवृत्ताश्च साधुवेदविवर्जिताः ।
मानवाः काण्डपृष्ठाश्च वेदमन्त्रबहिष्कृताः।
नियुक्ता हव्यकव्येषु तेषां दत्तं कथं भवेत् ॥ १३.५९.३१ ॥
If men who are given over to all women, devoid of good conduct and the Veda, of base behaviour, and excluded from the Vedic mantras, are appointed to the oblations for gods and ancestors, how could what is given to them bear fruit?
13.59.32
नार्हन्ति हव्यकव्यानि सावित्रीवर्जिता द्विजाः ।
व्रात्येष्वन्नप्रदानं तद्यथा शूद्रेषु वै तथा ॥ १३.५९.३२ ॥
Twice-born men who lack the Sāvitrī mantra do not deserve the oblations to gods and ancestors. Giving food to vrātyas is just like giving it to śūdras.
13.59.33
धर्मेष्वधिकृतानां तु नराणां मुह्यते मनः ।
कथं न विघ्नो भवति एतदिच्छामि वेदितुम् ॥ १३.५९.३३ ॥
The minds of men appointed to the duties of dharma become confused. How is this not an obstacle? I wish to know this.
13.59.34
अर्थाश्च नार्यश्च समानमेन-
च्छ्रेयांसि पुंसामिह मोहयन्ति।
रतिप्रमोदात्प्रमदा हरन्ति ।
भोगैर्धनं चाप्युपहन्ति धर्मान् ॥ १३.५९.३४ ॥
Wealth and women alike bewilder men's highest welfare here. Through the delight of pleasure, women carry men away. Through enjoyments they even squander wealth and destroy the duties of dharma.
13.59.35
हव्यं कव्यं च धर्मात्मा सर्वं तच्छ्रोत्रियोऽर्हति ।
दत्तं हि श्रोत्रिये साधौ ज्वलिताग्नाविवाहुतिः ॥ १३.५९.३५ ॥
A righteous, learned Vedic brahmin alone deserves all offerings of havya and kavya. For what is given to a learned good man is like an oblation poured into a blazing fire.
13.59.36
श्रोत्रियाणां कुले जाता वेदार्थविदितात्मनाम् ।
हित्वा कस्मात्त्रयीं विद्यां वार्तां वृत्तिमुपाश्रिताः ॥ १३.५९.३६ ॥
Born in the families of śrotriyas whose selves are known through the meaning of the Veda, why do they abandon the threefold knowledge and take up the livelihood of trade and husbandry?
13.59.37
चातुर्वर्ण्यं पुरा न्यस्तं सुविद्वत्सु द्विजातिषु ।
तस्माद्वर्णौः संविभज्या वृत्तिः सङ्करवर्जिता ॥ १३.५९.३७ ॥
Formerly the fourfold order was entrusted to the most learned twice-born; therefore, livelihood, well divided according to the varṇas, should be free from mixing.
13.59.38
ये चान्ये श्रोत्रिया जाताः संस्कृताः पुत्रगृध्नुभिः ।
पूर्वनिर्वाणनिर्वृत्तां जातां वृत्तिमुपाश्रिताः ॥ १३.५९.३८ ॥
And other śrotriyas who were born, consecrated by those eager for sons, resort to the livelihood of birth accomplished by an earlier liberation.
13.59.39
असंस्कृताः श्रोत्रियजाः संस्कृता ज्ञानिजाः कथम्। ॥ १३.५९.३९ ॥
How are those born of śrotriyas unconsecrated, and how are those born of men of knowledge consecrated?
13.59.40
असंस्कारो वैदिकश्च स मान्यः श्रोत्रियात्मजः ।
शुद्धान्वयः श्रोत्रियस्तु सुविद्वद्भिः समोऽन्यथा ॥ १३.५९.४० ॥
The Vedic lack of consecration is also honored: the son of a śrotriya, a śrotriya of pure lineage alone, is held equal by the very learned; otherwise not.
13.59.41
अनधीयानपुत्राश्च वेदसंस्कारवर्जिताः ।
तस्मात्ते वेदविज्ञाऽपि विप्राः श्रुतिनिकारिणः ॥ १३.५९.४१ ॥
Those whose sons do not study and who lack the Vedic consecration — therefore, even though they know the Veda, they are deniers of śruti.
13.59.42
ब्रह्मराशौ पुरा सृष्टा वेदसंस्कारसंस्कृताः ।
तस्मात्तेष्वेव ते जाताः साधवः कुलधारिणः ॥ १३.५९.४२ ॥
Formerly created from the mass of Brahman, purified by the Vedic sacraments; therefore the virtuous who were born from them became upholders of the family line.
13.59.43
स्वयं क्रीतासु प्रेष्यासु प्रसूयन्ते तु ये नराः ।
कस्य नार्यः सुताश्चैव भवन्ति ऋषिसत्तम ॥ १३.५९.४३ ॥
Whose wives and sons are they, O best of sages, of men who beget children on servants they themselves have bought?
13.59.44
स्वदास्यां यो नरो मोहात्प्रसूयेत स पापकृत् ।
इहाभिनिन्दितः प्रेत्य अपत्यं प्रेष्यतां नयेत् ॥ १३.५९.४४ ॥
A man who out of delusion begets a child on his own female slave is a sinner; condemned here, after death his offspring should be led into servitude.
13.59.45
सा तस्य भार्या पुत्रा ये हव्यकव्यप्रदास्तु ते ।
तस्या ये बान्धवाः केचिद्विषक्ताः प्रेष्यतां गताः।
सर्वे तस्यास्तु सम्बन्धा मुच्यन्ते प्रेष्यकर्मसु ॥ १३.५९.४५ ॥
She is his wife, and the sons who offer oblations to gods and ancestors are his; but whatever kinsmen of hers have become attached to servitude and gone into servile state, all her connections are released from servile duties.
13.59.46
एतत्ते कथितं सर्वं यदभिव्याहृतं त्वया ।
अथवा संशयः कश्चिद्भूयः सम्प्रष्टुमर्हसि ॥ १३.५९.४६ ॥
All that you have said has been told to you here; or if some doubt remains, you may ask again.
13.59.47
अमिथ्यादर्शनालोके नारदः सर्वकोविदः ।
प्रत्यक्षदर्शी लोकानां स्वयंभुरिव सत्तमः ॥ १३.५९.४७ ॥
In the light of unerring vision, Nārada is all-knowing; a direct seer of the worlds, the best, like the self-existent one.
13.59.48
इति सम्भाष्य ऋषिभिर्मार्कण्डेयो महातपाः ।
नारदं चापि सत्कृत्य तेन चैवाभिसत्कृतः।
आमन्त्रयित्वा ऋषिभिः प्रययावाश्रमं मुनिः ॥ १३.५९.४८ ॥
Having thus conversed with the sages, the great ascetic Mārkaṇḍeya also honored Nārada; and, honored in return by him, the sage took leave of the sages and went away to his hermitage.
13.59.49
ऋषयश्चापि तीर्थानां परिचर्यां प्रचक्रमुः ॥ १३.५९.४९ ॥
And the sages also set about the service of the sacred fords.
13.59.50
सुक्षेत्रबीजसंस्कारविशुद्धो ब्रह्मिचर्यया ।
नित्यनैमित्तिकात्स्नातो मनश्शुद्ध्या च शुद्ध्यति ॥ १३.५९.५० ॥
One purified by the rite of sowing seed in a good field, by celibate discipline, and bathed in regular and occasional rites, becomes pure by purity of mind.