पंचचूडा

यन्त्रोपारोपितकोशांशः

Purana Encyclopedia

पृष्ठभागोऽयं यन्त्रेण केनचित् काले काले मार्जयित्वा यथास्रोतः परिवर्तयिष्यते। तेन मा भूदत्र शोधनसम्भ्रमः। सज्जनैः मूलमेव शोध्यताम्।

PAÑCACŪḌĀ : A nymph. Once Śuka, son of Vyāsa by his yogic powers entered the Ākāśa. Then a host of celestial maidens led by Pañcacūḍā stood watching him in admiration. (See under Śuka)

Bhīṣma once told Dharmaputra that women were fickle- minded and the cause of evils. To explain his statement he pointed out to the conversation between Nārada and Pañcacūḍā. Nārada once conducted a world tour during the course of which he met Pañcacūḍā and asked her the characteristics of women. She replied thus: “Even beautiful, venerable and noble ladies would stoop to folly. It is not the habit of women to leave away charming men of wealth if they get them conveniently. Any woman can be tamed if you please her in the proper way. If women remain faithful to their husbands it is because they are afraid of scandal. They will enjoy men without looking into their age or figure. The desire for men in women can be compared to that of Antaka (god of Death) for the lives of men. This is the secret of womanhood.” (Chapter 38, Anuśāsana Parva).


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*2nd word in right half of page 547 (+offset) in original book.