भीष्म उवाच प्राचेतसस्य वचनं कीर्तयन्ति पुराविदः। यस्याः किंचित्राददते ज्ञातयो न स विक्रयः॥
Bhishma said They who know the ancient history recite the following verse of Daksha the son of Prachetas, viz.,-That maiden, for whom nothing is taken by her kinsmen in the form of dower, cannot be said to be sold.
अर्हणं तत्कुमारीणामानृशंस्यतमं च तत्। सर्वं च प्रतिदेयं स्यात् कन्यायै तदशेषतः॥
Honour good treatment, and everything else which is agreeable, should all be given to the maiden whose hand is taken in marriage.
पितृभिर्धातृभिश्चापि श्वशुरैरथ देवरैः। पूज्या भूषयितव्याश्च बहुकल्याणमीप्सुभिः॥
Her father and brothers and fatherinlaw and husband's brothers should show her every respect and adorn her with ornaments, if they be desirous of reaping benefits, for such conduct their part always produces considerable happiness and advantage.
यदि वै स्त्री न रोचेत पुमांसं न प्रमोदयेत्। अप्रमोदात् पुनः पुंसः प्रजनो न प्रवर्धते॥
If the wife does not like her husband or fails to please him, from such dislike and absence of joy, the husband can never have children for increasing his family.
पूज्या लालयितव्याश्च स्त्रियो नित्यं जनाधिप। स्त्रियो यत्र च पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः॥
on Women, O king should always be adored and treated with love. There where women are treated with honour, the very gods are said to be propitiated.
अपूजिताश्च यत्रैताः सर्वास्तत्राफला: क्रियाः। तदा चैतत् कुलं नास्ति यदा शोचन्ति जामयः॥
There where women are not adored, all acts become fruitless. If the women of a family, on account of the treatment they receive, indulge in grief and tears, that family soon becomes extinct.
जामीशप्तानि गेहानि निकृत्तानीव कृत्यया। नैव भान्ति न वर्धन्ते श्रिया हीनानि पार्थिवा॥
Those houses which are cursed by women meet with destruction and ruin as if scorched by some Atharvan rite. Such houses lose their splendour. Their growth and prosperity cease, O king.
स्त्रियः पुंसां परिददे मनुर्जिगमिषुर्दिवम्। अबलाः स्वल्पकौपीनाः सुहृदः सत्यजिष्णवः॥
Manu, on the eve of his departure from this world, made over women to the care and protection of men, saying that they are weak, that they fall an easy prey to the seduction of men, disposed to accept the love which is offered them, and devoted to truth.
ईर्षवो मानकामाश्च चण्डाश्च सुहृदोऽबुधाः। स्त्रियस्तु मानमर्हन्ति ता मानयत मानवाः॥
There are others among them who are full of malice, covetous of honours, fierce in nature, unlovable, and impervious to reason. Women, however, deserve to be respected. Do ye men show them honour.
स्त्रीप्रत्ययो हि वै धर्मो रतिभोगाश्च केवला:। परिचर्या नमस्कारास्तदायत्ता भवन्तु वः॥
The virtue of men depends upon women. All pleasures and enjoyments also entirely depend upon them. Do you serve them and adore them. Do ye bend your wills before them.
उत्पादनमपत्यस्य जातस्य परिपालनम्। प्रीत्यर्थं लोकयात्रायाः पश्यत स्त्रीनिबन्धनम्॥
The begetting of children, the nursing of children already born, and the accomplishment of all deeds necessary for the needs of society, see, all these have women for their cause.
सम्मान्यमानाचैता हि सर्वकार्याण्यवाप्स्यथा विदेहराजदुहिता धात्र श्लोकमगायत॥
By respecting women, you are sure to acquire the fruition of all objects. Regarding it a princess of the house of Janaka the king of
नास्ति यज्ञक्रिया काचित्र श्राद्धं नोपवासकम्। धर्मः स्वभर्तृशुश्रूषा तया स्वर्ग जयन्त्युत॥
Women have no sacrifices ordained for them. There are no Shraddhas which they are called upon to perform. They are not required to observe any fasts. To serve their husbands wish respect and willing obedience from their only duty. Through the satisfaction of that duty they succeed in conquering Heaven.
पिता रक्षति कौमारे भर्ता रक्षति यौवने। पुत्राश्च स्थाविरे भावे न स्त्री स्वातन्त्र्यमर्हति॥
In childhood, the father protects her. The husband protects her in youth. When she becomes old, her sons protect her. At no period of her life is woman free.
श्रिय एताः स्त्रियो नाम सत्कार्या भूतिमिच्छता। पालिता निगृहीता च श्रीः स्त्री भवति भारत॥
Women are deities of prosperity. The person that desires affluence and prosperity should honour them. By cherishing women, O Bharata, one cherishes the goddess of prosperity herself, and by afflicting her, one is said to pain the goddess of prosperity.