न स्त्रीणामप्रियः कश्चित्प्रियो वापि न विद्यते। गावस्तृणमिवारण्ये प्रार्थयंति नवंनवम्
No one is disliked or liked by women; like cows seeking fresh grass in the forest, they desire ever new things.
पुमांसं वित्तहीनं च विरूपं गुणवर्जितम्। अकुलीनं च भृत्यं च कामिनी भजते ध्रुवम्
A woman surely desires a man who is poor, deformed, devoid of virtues, of low birth, or even a servant.
भर्तारं च गुणोपेतं कुलीनं च महाधनम्। सुंदरं रतिदक्षं च त्यक्त्वा नीचं भजेद्वधूः
If a wife abandons her husband, who possesses virtues, is of noble lineage, wealthy, handsome, and skilled in pleasure, and instead associates with a lowly man—
उमानारदसंवादमाख्यानं विद्धि भूसुर। येन विद्यास्त्रियाश्चेष्टा विविधाः कृत्स्नशो द्विज
O brahmin, know this as the narrative of the conversation between Uma and Narada, by which the various behaviors and actions of women are fully explained, O twice-born.
स्वभावान्नारदो विप्र विश्वजिज्ञासको मुनिः। स्वांते विमृश्याथ गतः कैलासं गिरिमुत्तमम्
By his own nature, Narada, the sage eager to know all things, reflected within himself and then went to the supreme mountain Kailasa.
वृषकेतुसदाख्यान सप्रतिष्ठे हिमे गिरौ। प्रणिपत्य महात्मा वै पप्रच्छ पार्वतीं मुनिः
On the snowy mountain, at the place renowned for the bull-bannered one, the great sage bowed down and questioned Parvati.
देवि सीमंतिनीनांतु दुश्चेष्टां ज्ञातुमुत्सहे। कौतुकेन त्वया चर्या वधूनां संप्रयुज्यते
O goddess, I desire to know the improper conduct of women; out of curiosity, I ask you about the behavior of brides.
सर्वासामपि नारीणां स्वान्तं जानासि तत्त्वतः। तन्मां कथय सर्वेषु विनीतमज्ञमत्र च
You know the innermost nature of all women in truth; therefore, tell me everything, for I am humble and ignorant in this matter.
देव्युवाच- युवतीनां सदा चित्तं पुंसु तिष्ठत्यसंशयम्। अस्मिन्योनौ सुसंयोग्ये संगते वाप्यसंगते
The goddess said: The mind of young women always rests upon men, without doubt, whether united well in this womb or whether united or not.
सुवेषं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा भ्रातरं यदि वा सुतम्। योनिः क्लिद्यति नारीणां सत्यं सत्यं हि नारद
When a woman sees a well-dressed man, or her brother, or her son, her womb becomes moist—this is true, true indeed, O Narada.
स्थानं नास्ति क्षणं नास्ति नास्ति प्रार्थयिता नरः। तेन नारद नारीणां सतीत्वमुपजायते
There is no place, no moment, nor any man who desires her; thus, O Narada, chastity arises among women.
घृतकुंभसमा नारी तप्तांगारसमः पुमान्। तस्माद्घृतं च वह्निं च नैकस्थाने च धारयेत्
A woman is like a vessel of ghee, and a man is like burning charcoal; therefore, ghee and fire should not be kept together in one place.
यथैवमत्तमातंगं सृणिमुद्गरयोगतः। स्ववशं कुरुते यंता तथा स्त्रीणां प्ररक्षकः
Just as a trainer, using a rope and club, brings a drunken elephant under control, so too must a guardian restrain women.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्राश्च स्थाविरे भावे न स्त्री स्वातंत्र्यमर्हति
The father protects her in childhood, the husband protects her in youth, and the sons protect her in old age; a woman is not entitled to independence.
ततः स्वातंत्र्यभावाच्च स्वेच्छया च वरांगना। पुरुषेणार्थिता धीरा प्रेरणादिचरी भवेत्
Therefore, due to lack of independence and her own will, a noble woman, when sought by a man, acts only at his prompting.
अरक्षणाद्यथा पाकः श्वकाकवशगो भवेत्। तथैव युवती नारी स्वच्छंदाद्दुष्टतां व्रजेत्
Just as food, when unprotected, falls under the control of dogs and crows, so too does a young woman, through her own freedom, fall into corruption.
पुनरेव कुलं दुष्टं तस्यास्संसर्गतो भवेत्। परबीजेन यो जातः स च स्याद्वर्णसंकरः
Again, a family becomes corrupted through her association; one born from another's seed becomes a cause of caste-mixing.
जारजः संकरः पापो नरके नियतं वसेत्। कीटजातौ गता जाताः पुनः सर्वे महीतले
The sinful offspring of adultery and caste-mixing certainly dwell in hell; those born as insects are again born upon the earth.
ततो म्लेच्छमुपानीतं कुलं स्याद्द्विजनंदन। कुलक्षयो भवेद्यस्मात्तस्माद्दुष्टां न धारयेत्
Then, O delight of the twice-born, the family is brought to the state of mlecchas; because of this destruction of the lineage, one should not keep a corrupted woman.
ज्ञात्वैव योषितां दोषं क्षमते यो नराधमः। स तिष्ठेन्निरये घोरे रौरवे पितृभिः सह
If a wicked man, knowing the fault of women, forgives it, he dwells in the terrible hell of Raurava together with his ancestors.
काचित्पातयते नारी काचिदुद्धरते कुलम्। तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुलजामुद्वहेद्बुधः
One woman brings down a family, another uplifts it; therefore, a wise man should marry a woman of good lineage with all effort.
कुलद्वयं समा नारी समयित्वा तु तिष्ठति। साध्वी तारयते वंशान्दुष्टा पातयति ध्रुवम्
A woman, equal to both families, remains after uniting them; a virtuous one saves the lineages, but a wicked one certainly destroys them.
दारेष्वधीनं स्वर्गं च कुलं पंकं यशोऽयशः। पुत्रं दुहितरं मित्रं संसारे कथयंति च
Heaven, family, impurity, fame and infamy, son, daughter, and friend—all these are said to depend upon the wife in this world.
तस्मादेकां द्वितीयां वा वामामुद्वाहयेद्बुधः। संतानार्थात्तु कामाच्च बहुदोषाश्रिता च सा
Therefore, a wise man may marry one or a second woman; for the sake of progeny and desire, though she is associated with many faults.
रजस्वलां च वनितां नावगच्छति यः पतिः। ब्रह्महा भ्रूणहा सोपि दुर्गतिं चाधिगच्छति
A husband who does not recognize his wife during her menstruation attains the fate of a murderer of a Brahmin or a fetus, and falls into misfortune.
यो मोहाद्दुर्भगां कृत्वा साध्वीं त्यजति पापकृत्। तस्या वधेन यत्पापं तद्भुक्त्वा नरकं व्रजेत्
He who, out of delusion, makes a virtuous wife unfortunate and abandons her, having suffered the sin of her death, goes to hell.
वनिताहरणं कृत्वा चांडलकुलतां व्रजेत्। तथैव वनिताहानात्पतितो जायते नरः
Having abducted a woman, one attains the status of an outcaste; likewise, from abandoning a woman, a man becomes fallen.
रामां विन्यस्य स्कंधे च चिरं यमपुरे वसेत्। मलमूत्रं शिरोदेशे नित्यं तस्य च संपतेत्
Placing a woman upon his shoulder, he dwells long in the realm of Yama; filth and urine constantly fall upon his head.
एवं वर्षसहस्राणि भारं वहति दुर्मतिः। पुनर्यावन्ति लोमानि तावत्स रौरवं व्रजेत्
Thus, for thousands of years, the wicked one bears the burden; then, for as many hairs as he has, he enters the Raurava hell.
पुनः कीटेषु संतीर्णस्तदा मानुषतां व्रजेत्। ततश्च कलहं शोकं प्राप्नोति पूर्वकल्मषात्
Again, having passed through insects, he attains human birth; then, because of previous sin, he experiences quarrel and sorrow.