Description of the Nature of Women

Verse 1 (shiva.uma.24.1)

व्यास उवाच । कुत्सितं योषिदर्थं यत्सम्प्रोक्तं पञ्चचूडया । तन्मे ब्रूहि समासेन यदि तुष्टोऽसि मे मुने

vyāsa uvāca kutsitaṁ yoṣidarthaṁ yatsamproktaṁ pañcacūḍayā tanme brūhi samāsena yadi tuṣṭo'si me mune

Vyasa said: That disparaging account concerning women which was spoken by Panchachuda -- tell it to me in brief, O sage, if you are pleased with me.

Verse 2 (shiva.uma.24.2)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । स्त्रीणां स्वभावं वक्ष्यामि शृणु विप्र यथातथम् । यस्य श्रवणमात्रेण भवेद्वैराग्यमुत्तमम्

sanatkumāra uvāca strīṇāṁ svabhāvaṁ vakṣyāmi śṛṇu vipra yathātatham yasya śravaṇamātreṇa bhavedvairāgyamuttamam

Sanatkumara said: I shall describe the nature of women exactly as it is, O Brahmin; listen, for by merely hearing it, the highest dispassion arises.

Verse 3 (shiva.uma.24.3)

स्त्रियो मूलं हि दोषाणां लघुचित्ताः सदा मुने । तदासक्तिर्न कर्तव्या मोक्षेप्सुभिरतन्द्रितैः

striyo mūlaṁ hi doṣāṇāṁ laghucittāḥ sadā mune tadāsaktirna kartavyā mokṣepsubhiratandritaiḥ

O sage, women are indeed the root of faults, their minds ever fickle; therefore attachment to them should not be formed by the vigilant who desire liberation.

Verse 4 (shiva.uma.24.4)

अत्राप्युदाहरन्तीममितिहासं पुरातनम् । नारदस्य च संवादं पुंश्चल्या पञ्चचूडया

atrāpyudāharantīmamitihāsaṁ purātanam nāradasya ca saṁvādaṁ puṁścalyā pañcacūḍayā

On this point, they cite this ancient tale -- the dialogue of Narada with the courtesan Panchachuda.

Verse 5 (shiva.uma.24.5)

लोकान् परिचरन् धीमान् देवर्षिर्नारदः पुरा । ददर्शाप्सरसं बालां पञ्चचूडामनुत्तमाम्

lokān paricaran dhīmān devarṣirnāradaḥ purā dadarśāpsarasaṁ bālāṁ pañcacūḍāmanuttamām

Once, the wise divine sage Narada, wandering through the worlds, beheld the peerless young apsaras Panchachuda.

Verse 6 (shiva.uma.24.6)

पप्रच्छाप्सरसं सुभ्रूं नारदो मुनिसत्तमः । संशयो हृदि मे कश्चित्तन्मे ब्रूहि सुमध्यमे

papracchāpsarasaṁ subhrūṁ nārado munisattamaḥ saṁśayo hṛdi me kaścittanme brūhi sumadhyame

Narada, best of sages, asked the fair-browed apsara: 'I have a certain doubt in my heart; tell it to me, O slender-waisted one.'

Verse 7 (shiva.uma.24.7)

एवमुक्ता तु सा विप्रं प्रत्युवाच वराप्सरा । विषये सति वक्ष्यामि समर्थां मन्यसेऽथ माम्

evamuktā tu sā vipraṁ pratyuvāca varāpsarā viṣaye sati vakṣyāmi samarthāṁ manyase'tha mām

Thus addressed, that excellent apsara replied to the Brahmin: 'If the subject is within my competence, I shall speak, if you consider me capable.'

Verse 8 (shiva.uma.24.8)

नारद उवाच । न त्वामविषये भद्रे नियोक्ष्यामि कथञ्चन । स्त्रीणां स्वभावमिच्छामि त्वत्तः श्रोतुं सुमध्यमे

nārada uvāca na tvāmaviṣaye bhadre niyokṣyāmi kathañcana strīṇāṁ svabhāvamicchāmi tvattaḥ śrotuṁ sumadhyame

Narada said: 'O gracious one, I shall never ask of you something outside your competence; O slender-waisted one, I wish to hear from you of the nature of women.'

Verse 9 (shiva.uma.24.9)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । एतच्छ्रुत्वा वचस्तस्य देवर्षेरप्सरोत्तमा । प्रत्युवाच मुनीशं तं देवर्षिं मुनिसत्तमम्

sanatkumāra uvāca etacchrutvā vacastasya devarṣerapsarottamā pratyuvāca munīśaṁ taṁ devarṣiṁ munisattamam

Sanatkumara said: Having heard these words of the divine sage, that foremost of apsaras replied to that lord of sages, the divine sage, the best of sages.

Verse 10 (shiva.uma.24.10)

पञ्चचूडोवाच । मुने शृणु न शक्या स्त्री सती वै निन्दितुं स्त्रिया । विदितास्ते स्त्रियो याश्च यादृश्यश्च स्वभावतः

pañcacūḍovāca mune śṛṇu na śakyā strī satī vai nindituṁ striyā viditāste striyo yāśca yādṛśyaśca svabhāvataḥ

Panchachuda said: 'O sage, listen -- a virtuous woman ought not to speak in blame of women; yet you already know women, who they are and what their nature truly is.'

Verse 11 (shiva.uma.24.11)

न मामर्हसि देवर्षे नियोक्तुं प्रश्नमीदृशम् । इत्युक्त्वा साभवत्तूष्णीं पञ्चचूडाप्सरोवरा

na māmarhasi devarṣe niyoktuṁ praśnamīdṛśam ityuktvā sābhavattūṣṇīṁ pañcacūḍāpsarovarā

'O divine sage, it is not fitting for you to put such a question to me.' Having said this, that excellent apsara Panchachuda fell silent.

Verse 12 (shiva.uma.24.12)

अथ देवर्षिवर्यो हि श्रुत्वा तद्वाक्यमुत्तमम् । प्रत्युवाच पुनस्तां वै लोकानां हितकाम्यया

atha devarṣivaryo hi śrutvā tadvākyamuttamam pratyuvāca punastāṁ vai lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā

Then that foremost of divine sages, having heard her excellent words, spoke to her again, out of a wish for the welfare of all the worlds.

Verse 13 (shiva.uma.24.13)

नारद उवाच । मृषावादे भवेद्दोषः सत्ये दोषो न विद्यते । इति जानीहि सत्यं त्वं वदातस्तत्सुमध्यमे

nārada uvāca mṛṣāvāde bhaveddoṣaḥ satye doṣo na vidyate iti jānīhi satyaṁ tvaṁ vadātastatsumadhyame

Narada said: 'There is fault in falsehood; in truth there is no fault at all. Know this, and therefore speak the truth, O slender-waisted one.'

Verse 14 (shiva.uma.24.14)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इत्युक्ता सा कृतमती रभसा चारुहासिनी । स्त्रीदोषान् शाश्वतान्सत्यान् भाषितुं सम्प्रचक्रमे

sanatkumāra uvāca ityuktā sā kṛtamatī rabhasā cāruhāsinī strīdoṣān śāśvatānsatyān bhāṣituṁ sampracakrame

Sanatkumara said: Thus addressed, she of the lovely smile, her mind now resolved, began eagerly to declare the eternal, true faults of women.

Verse 15 (shiva.uma.24.15)

पञ्चचूडोवाच । कुलीना नाथवन्त्यश्च रूपवन्त्यश्च योषितः । मर्यादाषु न तिष्ठन्ति स दोषः स्त्रीषु नारद

pañcacūḍovāca kulīnā nāthavantyaśca rūpavantyaśca yoṣitaḥ maryādāṣu na tiṣṭhanti sa doṣaḥ strīṣu nārada

Panchachuda said: 'O Narada, even women of good family, who have protectors, and who are beautiful, do not remain within the bounds of propriety -- this is the fault in women.'

Verse 16 (shiva.uma.24.16)

न स्त्रीभ्यः किञ्चिदन्यद्वै पापीयस्तरमस्ति हि । स्त्रियो मूलं हि पापानां तथा त्वमपि वेत्थ ह

na strībhyaḥ kiñcidanyadvai pāpīyastaramasti hi striyo mūlaṁ hi pāpānāṁ tathā tvamapi vettha ha

'There is indeed nothing else more sinful than women; women are truly the root of sins, and this too you already know.'

Verse 17 (shiva.uma.24.17)

समाज्ञातानर्थवतः प्रतिरूपान् यथेप्सितान् । पतीनन्तरमासाद्य नालं नार्यः प्रतीक्षितुम्

samājñātānarthavataḥ pratirūpān yathepsitān patīnantaramāsādya nālaṁ nāryaḥ pratīkṣitum

'Even having obtained husbands who are well-known, well-provided, of fitting form, and just as desired, women are still unable to remain content, waiting even a short while.'

Verse 18 (shiva.uma.24.18)

असद्धर्मस्त्वयं स्त्रीणामस्माकं भवति प्रभो । पापीयसो नरान् यद्वै लज्जां त्यक्त्वा भजामहे

asaddharmastvayaṁ strīṇāmasmākaṁ bhavati prabho pāpīyaso narān yadvai lajjāṁ tyaktvā bhajāmahe

'This unrighteous conduct, O lord, belongs to us women -- that we, casting aside all shame, take up with even sinful men.'

Verse 19 (shiva.uma.24.19)

स्त्रियं च यः प्रार्थयते सन्निकर्षं च गच्छति । ईषच्च कुरुते सेवां तमेवेच्छन्ति योषितः

striyaṁ ca yaḥ prārthayate sannikarṣaṁ ca gacchati īṣacca kurute sevāṁ tamevecchanti yoṣitaḥ

'Whatever man courts a woman, draws near to her, and offers her even a little attention -- that very man do women desire.'

Verse 20 (shiva.uma.24.20)

अनर्थित्वान्मनुष्याणां भयात्पतिजनस्य च । मर्यादायाममर्यादाः स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु

anarthitvānmanuṣyāṇāṁ bhayātpatijanasya ca maryādāyāmamaryādāḥ striyastiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu

'It is only from the lack of suitable men seeking them, and from fear of their husband's family, that women, who are by nature without restraint, remain within the bounds of propriety toward their husbands.'

Verse 21 (shiva.uma.24.21)

नासां कश्चिदमान्योऽस्ति नासां वयसि निश्चयः । सुरूपं वा कुरूपं वा पुमांसमुपभुञ्जते

nāsāṁ kaścidamānyo'sti nāsāṁ vayasi niścayaḥ surūpaṁ vā kurūpaṁ vā pumāṁsamupabhuñjate

'No man is beneath their notice, and they have no fixed preference regarding age; they take to themselves a man whether handsome or ill-formed.'

Verse 22 (shiva.uma.24.22)

न भयादथ वाक्रोशान्नार्थहेतोः कथञ्चन । न ज्ञातिकुलसम्बन्धात् स्त्रियस्तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु

na bhayādatha vākrośānnārthahetoḥ kathañcana na jñātikulasambandhāt striyastiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu

'Not out of fear, nor from any reproach, nor for the sake of wealth, nor from ties of family and kin do women remain faithful to their husbands by their own inclination alone.'

Verse 23 (shiva.uma.24.23)

यौवने वर्तमानानामिष्टाभरणवाससाम् । नारीणां स्वैरवृत्तीनां स्पृहयन्ति कुलस्त्रियः

yauvane vartamānānāmiṣṭābharaṇavāsasām nārīṇāṁ svairavṛttīnāṁ spṛhayanti kulastriyaḥ

'Even women of good family come to envy those women who live in youth, adorned with cherished ornaments and garments, following their own free will.'

Verse 24 (shiva.uma.24.24)

या हि शश्वद् बहुमता रक्ष्यन्ते दयिताः स्त्रियः । अपि ताः सम्प्रसज्जन्ते कुब्जान्धजडवामने

yā hi śaśvad bahumatā rakṣyante dayitāḥ striyaḥ api tāḥ samprasajjante kubjāndhajaḍavāmane

'Even those beloved wives who are ever held in high regard and carefully guarded become attached even to a hunchback, a blind man, a dullard, or a dwarf.'

Verse 25 (shiva.uma.24.25)

पङ्गुष्वपि च देवर्षे ये चान्ये कुत्सिता नराः । स्त्रीणामगम्यो लोकेषु नास्ति कश्चिन्महामुने

paṅguṣvapi ca devarṣe ye cānye kutsitā narāḥ strīṇāmagamyo lokeṣu nāsti kaścinmahāmune

'O divine sage, even to the lame, and to other men however contemptible -- O great sage, there is no man in the worlds who is beyond a woman's reach.'

Verse 26 (shiva.uma.24.26)

यदि पुंसां गतिर्ब्रह्मन् कथञ्चिन्नोपपद्यते । अप्यन्योऽन्यं प्रवर्तन्ते न च तिष्ठन्ति भर्तृषु

yadi puṁsāṁ gatirbrahman kathañcinnopapadyate apyanyo'nyaṁ pravartante na ca tiṣṭhanti bhartṛṣu

'O Brahmin, if by some chance access to men is not available to them, they even turn to one another; but they do not remain faithful to their husbands.'

Verse 27 (shiva.uma.24.27)

अलाभात्पुरुषाणां च भयात्परिजनस्य च । वधबन्धभयाच्चैव ता भग्नाशा हि योषितः

alābhātpuruṣāṇāṁ ca bhayātparijanasya ca vadhabandhabhayāccaiva tā bhagnāśā hi yoṣitaḥ

'It is only from the unavailability of other men, from fear of their household, and from fear of punishment or confinement, that women, their other hopes broken, remain restrained.'

Verse 28 (shiva.uma.24.28)

चलस्वभाव दुश्चेष्टा दुर्गाह्या भावतस्तथा । प्राज्ञस्य पुरुषस्येह यथा रतिपरिग्रहात्

calasvabhāva duśceṣṭā durgāhyā bhāvatastathā prājñasya puruṣasyeha yathā ratiparigrahāt

'Their nature is fickle, their conduct wayward, and their true disposition hard to fathom, just as is evident to a wise man from the very taking up of intimacy with them.'

Verse 29 (shiva.uma.24.29)

नाग्निस्तुष्यति काष्ठानां नापगानां महोदधि । नान्तकः सर्वभूतानां न पुंसां वामलोचनाः

nāgnistuṣyati kāṣṭhānāṁ nāpagānāṁ mahodadhi nāntakaḥ sarvabhūtānāṁ na puṁsāṁ vāmalocanāḥ

'Fire is never satisfied with fuel, nor the great ocean with rivers, nor death with all living beings, nor women of lovely eyes with men.'

Verse 30 (shiva.uma.24.30)

इदमन्यच्च देवर्षे रहस्यं सर्वयोषिताम् । दृष्ट्वैव पुरुषं सद्यो योनिः प्रक्लिद्यते स्त्रियाः

idamanyacca devarṣe rahasyaṁ sarvayoṣitām dṛṣṭvaiva puruṣaṁ sadyo yoniḥ praklidyate striyāḥ

'And here, O divine sage, is another secret of all women: the very moment a woman sees a man, her womb becomes moist.'

Verse 31 (shiva.uma.24.31)

सुस्नातं पुरुषं दृष्ट्वा सुगन्धं मलवर्जितम् । योनिः प्रक्लिद्यते स्त्रीणां दृतेः पात्रादिवोदकम्

susnātaṁ puruṣaṁ dṛṣṭvā sugandhaṁ malavarjitam yoniḥ praklidyate strīṇāṁ dṛteḥ pātrādivodakam

'Upon seeing a man freshly bathed, fragrant, and free of dirt, the womb of women becomes moist, just as water seeps from a leather bag.'

Verse 32 (shiva.uma.24.32)

कायानामपि दातारं कर्त्तारं मानसान्त्वयोः । रक्षितारं न मृष्यन्ति भर्तारं परमं स्त्रियः

kāyānāmapi dātāraṁ karttāraṁ mānasāntvayoḥ rakṣitāraṁ na mṛṣyanti bhartāraṁ paramaṁ striyaḥ

'Women do not truly tolerate even their own husband, though he be the very giver of their bodily comforts, the author of solace to their mind, and their supreme protector.'

Verse 33 (shiva.uma.24.33)

न कामभोगात्परमान्नालङ्कारार्थसञ्चयात् । तथा हितं न मन्यन्ते यथा रतिपरिग्रहात्

na kāmabhogātparamānnālaṅkārārthasañcayāt tathā hitaṁ na manyante yathā ratiparigrahāt

'Women do not consider anything so beneficial to themselves -- not the greatest sensual enjoyment, nor the accumulation of ornaments and wealth -- as they do the mere taking up of intimacy with a new partner.'

Verse 34 (shiva.uma.24.34)

अन्तकः शमनो मृत्युः पातालं वडवामुखम् । क्षुरधारा विषं सर्पो वह्निरित्येकतः स्त्रियः

antakaḥ śamano mṛtyuḥ pātālaṁ vaḍavāmukham kṣuradhārā viṣaṁ sarpo vahnirityekataḥ striyaḥ

'Death, the ender, the punisher, the netherworld, the submarine fire, the razor's edge, poison, the serpent, and fire -- all these on one side, and women on the other, are equally to be feared.'

Verse 35 (shiva.uma.24.35)

यतश्च भूतानि महान्ति पञ्च यतश्च लोको विहितो विधात्रा । यतः पुमांसः प्रमदाश्च निर्मिताः सदैव दोषः प्रमदासु नारद

yataśca bhūtāni mahānti pañca yataśca loko vihito vidhātrā yataḥ pumāṁsaḥ pramadāśca nirmitāḥ sadaiva doṣaḥ pramadāsu nārada

'O Narada, by the very source from which the five great elements arose, by which the world was fashioned by the Creator, by which men and women alike were made -- from that very source, fault has ever been present in women.'

Verse 36 (shiva.uma.24.36)

सनत्कुमार उवाच । इति श्रुत्वा वचस्तस्या नारदस्तुष्टमानसः । तथ्यं मत्वा ततस्तद्वै विरक्तोऽभूद्धि तासु च

sanatkumāra uvāca iti śrutvā vacastasyā nāradastuṣṭamānasaḥ tathyaṁ matvā tatastadvai virakto'bhūddhi tāsu ca

Sanatkumara said: Having heard her words, Narada, his mind satisfied, and considering them to be true, thereupon became dispassionate toward women.

Verse 37 (shiva.uma.24.37)

इत्युक्तः स्त्रीस्वभावस्ते पञ्चचूडोक्त आदरात् । वैराग्यकारणं व्यास किमन्यच्छ्रोतुमर्हसि

ityuktaḥ strīsvabhāvaste pañcacūḍokta ādarāt vairāgyakāraṇaṁ vyāsa kimanyacchrotumarhasi

Thus has the nature of women, as respectfully declared by Panchachuda, been told to you -- the very cause of dispassion. O Vyasa, what else do you wish to hear?