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Mahābhārata • Parva 13 (Anuśāsanaparva) • Adhyāya 21

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 21

अनुशासनपर्व • अध्यायः 21

Anuśāsanaparva Adhyāya 21 of the classical Mahābhārata with 25 verses.

Total: 25 Verses • Citations: MBh 13.21.1–25 • 250 Lexicon Terms
अथ सा स्त्री तमुक्त्वा तु विप्रमेवं भवत्विति । तैलं दिव्यमुपादाय स्नानशाटीमुपानयत् ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Thus ordered the lady said Be it so! She then brought oil and a piece of cloth for his wear during the ablutions.
अनुज्ञाता च मुनिना सा स्त्री तेन महात्मना । अथास्य तैलेनाङ्गानि सर्वाण्येवाभ्यमृक्षयत् ॥
English Translation
With the ascetic's permission she rubbed every part of his body with the fragrant oil she had brought for him.
शनैश्चोत्सादितस्तत्र स्नानशालामुपागमत् । भद्रासनं ततश्चित्रं ऋषिरन्वाविशन्नवम् ॥
English Translation
The Rishi was rubbed, and when the process of rubbing was over, he went to the room set apart set apart for the performance of ablutions. There he sat upon a new and Excellent seat.
अथोपविष्टश्च यदा तस्मिन्भद्रासने तदा । स्नापयामास शनकैस्तमृषिं सुखहस्तवत् । दिव्यं च विधिवच्चक्रे सोपचारं मुनेस्तदा ॥
English Translation
After the Rishi had taken his seat upon it, the old lady began to wash his body with her own soft hands whose touch was highly agrecable.
स तेन सुसुखोष्णेन तस्या हस्तसुखेन च । व्यतीतां रजनीं कृत्स्नां नाजानात्स महाव्रतः ॥
English Translation
One after another in due course the lady helped the Rishi in his ablutions. Between the lukewarm water with which he was washed, and the soft hands which were engaged in washing him, the Rishi of rigid vows could not understand that the whole night had passed away in the work. Rising from the bath, the Rishi became highly surprised.
तत उत्थाय स मुनिस्तदा परमविस्मितः । पूर्वस्यां दिशि सूर्यं च सोऽपश्यदुदितं दिवि ॥
तस्य बुद्धिरियं किं नु मोहस्तत्त्वमिदं भवेत् । अथोपास्य सहस्रांशुं किं करोमीत्युवाच ताम् ॥
सा चामृतरसप्रख्यमृषेरन्नमुपाहरत् । तस्य स्वादुतयान्नस्य न प्रभूतं चकार सः । व्यगमच्चाप्यहःशेषं ततः संध्यागमत्पुनः ॥
English Translation
On account of the sweetness of that food the Rishi could not take much. In taking that little however, the day passed away and evening set in.
अथ स्त्री भगवन्तं सा सुप्यतामित्यचोदयत् । तत्र वै शयने दिव्ये तस्य तस्याश्च कल्पिते ॥
English Translation
The old lady then asked the Rishi to go to bed and sleep. An excellent bed was given ts) the Rishi and another was taken by herself.
न भद्रे परदारेषु मनो मे संप्रसज्जति । उत्तिष्ठ भद्रे भद्रं ते स्वप वै विरमस्व च ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said O blessed lady, I am not inclined for sexual union with one who is the wife of another. Leave my bed, O good lady. Blessed be you do, you desist from this of your own accord.
सा तदा तेन विप्रेण तथा धृत्या निवर्तिता । स्वतन्त्रास्मीत्युवाचैनं न धर्मच्छलमस्ति ते ॥
English Translation
Bhishma said Thus dissuaded by the Brahmana with the help of his selfcontrol, the lady answered him saying I am my own mistress! In accepting me you will commit no sin.
नास्ति स्वतन्त्रता स्त्रीणामस्वतन्त्रा हि योषितः । प्रजापतिमतं ह्येतन्न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said Women can never be their own mistresses. This is the opinion of the Creator himself, viz., that a woman should never be indepent.
बाधते मैथुनं विप्र मम भक्तिं च पश्य वै । अधर्मं प्राप्स्यसे विप्र यन्मां त्वं नाभिनन्दसि ॥
English Translation
The lady said O learned Brahmana, I am pained by desire. Mark my devotion to you. You commit sin by refusing to accept me lovingly.
हरन्ति दोषजातानि नरं जातं यथेच्छकम् । प्रभवामि सदा धृत्या भद्रे स्वं शयनं व्रज ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said Various shortcomings drag away the man who acts as he likes. As for myself I am able to govern my inclinations by selfcontrol. O good lady, return to your own bed.
शिरसा प्रणमे विप्र प्रसादं कर्तुमर्हसि । भूमौ निपतमानायाः शरणं भव मेऽनघ ॥
English Translation
The lady said I bow to you. You should show me your favour. O sinless one, I prostrate myself before you, do you become my refuge.
यदि वा दोषजातं त्वं परदारेषु पश्यसि । आत्मानं स्पर्शयाम्यद्य पाणिं गृह्णीष्व मे द्विज ॥
English Translation
If you see sin in knowing one who is not your wife, I yield myself to you. Do you, O twice born one, accept my hand in marriage.
न दोषो भविता चैव सत्येनैतद्ब्रवीम्यहम् । स्वतन्त्रां मां विजानीहि योऽधर्मः सोऽस्तु वै मयि ॥
English Translation
You will incur no sin. I tell you truly. Know that I am my own mistress. It there be any sin in this, let it visit me only. My heart is devoted to you. I am my own mistress. Do you accept me.
स्वतन्त्रा त्वं कथं भद्रे ब्रूहि कारणमत्र वै । नास्ति लोके हि काचित्स्त्री या वै स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said How is it, O good lady that you are your own mistress? Tell me the reason of this. There is not a single woman in the three worlds who can be considered as the mistress of her own self.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने । पुत्राश्च स्थविरीभावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति ॥
English Translation
The father protects her while she is a maiden. The husband protects her while she is young. Sons protect her when she is aged. Woman can never be independent as long as they live.
कौमारं ब्रह्मचर्यं मे कन्यैवास्मि न संशयः । कुरु मा विमतिं विप्र श्रद्धां विजहि मा मम ॥
English Translation
The lady said I have, since my maidenhood adopted the vow of celibacy. Do not doubt it. I am still a maid. Do you make me your wife. O Brahmana, do not kill this devotion of mine to you.
यथा मम तथा तुभ्यं यथा तव तथा मम । जिज्ञासेयमृषेस्तस्य विघ्नः सत्यं नु किं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
Ashtavakra said As you are inclined to me so am I inclined to you. There is this question, however, that should be settled. It is true that by giving way to iny inclinations I shall not be considered as acting contrary to what the Rishi (Vadanya) wishes.
आश्चर्यं परमं हीदं किं नु श्रेयो हि मे भवेत् । दिव्याभरणवस्त्रा हि कन्येयं मामुपस्थिता ॥
English Translation
This is very wonderful. Will this lead to what is good? Here is a maiden adorned with good ornaments and robes!
किं त्वस्याः परमं रूपं जीर्णमासीत्कथं पुनः । कन्यारूपमिहाद्यैव किमिहात्रोत्तरं भवेत् ॥
English Translation
She is highly beautiful. Why did decrepitude hide her beauty so long? At present she looks like a beautiful maiden. I do not know what forin she may assume hereafter.
यथा परं शक्तिधृतेर्न व्युत्थास्ये कथंचन । न रोचये हि व्युत्थानं धृत्यैवं साधयाम्यहम् ॥
English Translation
I shall never Swerve from that control which I have over desire and the other passions or from contentment with what I have already gol. Such swerving is not good. I shall keep myself united with truth.
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