What is there that fire will not burn; what is there that ocean cannot contain; what cannot a woman do in her strength; or what is there in the world that death does not devour?
Chaupâi
“God first ordained one thing, but now ordains something quite different, and what He would show us now is the very reverse of what he showed us then.” Said one: “The king has not done well, and without consideration has granted the wicked woman her request. He has wilfully brought all this misery upon himself, and in yielding to a woman has lost all good sense and discretion.” Another wisely recognized the king’s supreme virtue and would not blame him, as they repeated to one another the legends of Sivi, Dadhichi, and Harischandra. One suggested Bharat’s connivance, another was distressed at the mention of such a thing; while a third, stopping his ears with his hands and biting his tongue, exclaimed: “Such words are false; you damn yourself by saying such things. Bharat is Râma’s dearest friend.
Chaupâi
“God first ordained one thing, but now ordains something quite different, and what He would show us now is the very reverse of what he showed us then.” Said one: “The king has not done well, and without consideration has granted the wicked woman her request. He has wilfully brought all this misery upon himself, and in yielding to a woman has lost all good sense and discretion.” Another wisely recognized the king’s supreme virtue and would not blame him, as they repeated to one another the legends of Sivi, Dadhichi, and Harischandra. One suggested Bharat’s connivance, another was distressed at the mention of such a thing; while a third, stopping his ears with his hands and biting his tongue, exclaimed: “Such words are false; you damn yourself by saying such things. Bharat is Râma’s dearest friend.