सुरुचिः शृण्वतो राज्ञः सेर्ष्यमाहातिगर्विता ॥१०॥
tathÄ cikÄ«rá¹£amÄṇaá¹ taá¹
sapatnyÄs tanayaá¹ dhruvam
suruciḥ śṛṇvato rÄjñaḥ
será¹£yam ÄhÄtigarvitÄ
tathÄ - thus; cikÄ«rá¹£amÄṇam - the child Dhruva, who was trying to get up; tam - unto him; sa-patnyÄḥ - of her co-wife (SunÄ«ti); tanayam - son; dhruvam - Dhruva; suruciḥ - Queen Suruci; śṛṇvataḥ - while hearing; rÄjñaḥ - of the King; sa-Ä«rá¹£yam - with envy; Äha - said; atigarvitÄ - being too proud.
While the child, Dhruva MahÄrÄja, was trying to get on the lap of his father, Suruci, his stepmother, became very envious of the child, and with great pride she began to speak so as to be heard by the King himself.
The King, of course, was equally affectionate toward both his sons, Uttama and Dhruva, so he had a natural inclination to take Dhruva, as well as Uttama, on his lap. But because of his favoritism towards his queen Suruci, he could not welcome Dhruva MahÄrÄja, despite his feelings. King UttÄnapÄda’s feeling was understood by Suruci, and therefore with great pride she began to speak about the King’s affection for her. This is the nature of woman. If a woman understands that her husband regards her as a favorite and is especially affectionate to her, she takes undue advantage. These symptoms are visible even in such an elevated society as the family of SvÄyambhuva Manu. Therefore it is concluded that the feminine nature of woman is present everywhere.
