2.3.18. Being led by Women
901 Who give their soul to love of wife acquire not nobler gain; Who give their soul to strenuous deeds such meaner joys disdain. Those who lust after their wives will not attain the excellence of virtue; and it is just this that is not desired by those who are bent on acquiring wealth.
902 Who gives himself to love of wife, careless of noble name His wealth will clothe him with o’erwhelming shame. The wealth of him who, regardless (of his manliness), devotes himself to his wife’s feminine nature will cause great shame (to ali men) and to himself;
903 Who to his wife submits, his strange, unmanly mood Will daily bring him shame among the good. The frailty that stoops to a wife will always make (her husband) feel ashamed among the good.
904 No glory crowns e’en manly actions wrought By him who dreads his wife, nor gives the other world a thought. The undertaking of one, who fears his wife and is therefore destitute of (bliss), will never be applauded.
905 Who quakes before his wife will ever tremble too, Good deeds to men of good deserts to do. He that fears his wife will always be afraid of doing good deeds (even) to the good.
906 Though, like the demi-gods, in bliss they dwell secure from harm, Those have no dignity who fear the housewife’s slender arm. They that fear the bamboo-like shoulders of their wives will be destitute of manliness though they may flourish like the Gods.
907 The dignity of modest womanhood excels His manliness, obedient to a woman’s law who dwells. 110 Even shame faced womanhood is more to be esteemed than the shameless manhood that performs the behests of a wife.
908 Who to the will of her with beauteous brow their lives conform, Aid not their friends in need, nor acts of charity perform. Those who yield to the wishes of their wives will neither relieve the wants of (their) friends nor perform virtuous deeds.
909 No virtuous deed, no seemly wealth, no pleasure, rests With them who live obedient to their wives’ behests. From those who obey the commands of their wives are to be expected neither deeds of virtue, nor those of wealth nor (even) those of pleasure.
910 Where pleasures of the mind, that dwell in realms of thought, abound, Folly, that springs from overweening woman’s love, is never found. The foolishness that results from devotion to a wife will never be found in those who possess a reflecting mind and a prosperity (flowing) therefrom.
2.3.19. Wanton Women
911 Those that choice armlets wear who seek not thee with love, But seek thy wealth, their pleasant words will ruin prove. The sweet words of elegant braceleted (prostitutes) who desire (a man) not from affection but from avarice, will cause sorrow.
912 Who weigh the gain, and utter virtuous words with vicious heart, Weighing such women’s worth, from their society depart. One must ascertain the character of the ill-natured women who after ascertaining the wealth (of a man) speak (as if they were) good natured-ones, and avoid intercourse (with them).
913 As one in darkened room, some stranger corpse inarms, Is he who seeks delight in mercenary women’s charms! The false embraces of wealth-loving women are like (hired men) embracing a strange corpse in a dark room.
914 Their worthless charms, whose only weal is wealth of gain, From touch of these the wise, who seek the wealth of grace, abstain. The wise who seek the wealth of grace will not desire the base favours of those who regard wealth (and not pleasure) as (their) riches.
915 From contact with their worthless charms, whose charms to all are free, The men with sense of good and lofty wisdom blest will flee; 111 Those whose knowledge is made excellent by their (natural) sense will not covet the trffling delights of those whose favours are common (to all).
916 From touch of those who worthless charms, with wanton arts, display, The men who would their own true good maintain will turn away. Those who would spread (the fame of) their own goodness will not desire the shoulders of those,who rejoice in their accomplishments and bestow their despicable favours (on all who pay).
917 Who cherish alien thoughts while folding in their feigned embrace, These none approach save those devoid of virtue’s grace. Those who are destitute of a perfectly (reformed) mind will covet the shoulders of those who embrace (them) while their hearts covet other things.
918 As demoness who lures to ruin woman’s treacherous love To men devoid of wisdom’s searching power will prove. The wise say that to such as are destitute of discerning sense the embraces of faithless women are (as ruinous as those of) the celestail female.
919 The wanton’s tender arm, with gleaming jewels decked, Is hell, where sink degraded souls of men abject. The delicate shoulders of prostitutes with excellent jewels are a hell into which are plunged the ignorant base.
920 Women of double minds, strong drink, and dice; to these giv’n o’er, Are those on whom the light of Fortune shines no more. Treacherous women, liquor, and gambling are the associates of such as have forsaken by Fortune.