Verse 2.214

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

अविद्वांसमलं लोके विद्वांसमपि वा पुनः ।
प्रमदा ह्युत्पथं नेतुं कामक्रोधवशानुगम् ॥ २१४ ॥

avidvāṃsamalaṃ loke vidvāṃsamapi vā punaḥ |
pramadā hyutpathaṃ netuṃ kāmakrodhavaśānugam || 214 ||

In this world women are capable op leading astray the ignorant, as well as the learned, who becomes a servile follower of desire and passion.—(214)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

It should not be thought that the person who has full control over his organs and who is fully aware that even locking at the Teacher’s wife with impure motives is a heinous offence, incurs no danger by touching her feet. Because so far as women are concerned, the person cognisant of the grievousness of the sin, as well as the person not so cognisant, both are equal; for no amount of learning is any use in this matter; women are capable of leading astray—on the wrong path, contrary to usage and scriptures—all men.

‘Who becomes a servile follower of desire and passion,’—Who becomes contaminated with desire and passion. This epithet only serves to indicate a particular condition of man. Barring the too young and too old, and one who has reached the highest stage of Yoga, there is no one, with the exception of one who has entirely destroyed his human susceptibilities, who is not attracted by women, just as iron is attracted by the magnet. This is not due to any powerful influence intentionally exercised; it is in the very nature of things that at the sight of a young woman, the mind of man becomes upset, specially that of young students.—(214)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Smṛticandrikā (Saṃskāra, p. 104) as laying down the reason why the young wife of the Teacher should not be touched in the feet by the young pupil, the meaning being—‘Because women are capable of leading the learned as well as the ignorant man, who may yield to to physical desires and other weaknesses’.

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 213-215)

See Comparative notes for Verse 2.213.