Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c12.s8.5

c12.s8.5

Various fanciful etymologies are given to the various synonyms of "woman" in Prākrit She is called *nārī* because there is no worse enemy of man than her; she is termed *mahilā* because she charms by her wiles and graces; she is called *pamaḍā* because she accelerates a man's passion; she is called *mahilīyā* because she creates great dissension (*kalī*), she is called *vāmā* because she takes delight in men by means of her coquettish gestures; she is called *aṅganā* because she loves the body of men, she is called *lalanā* because she attracts a man even in domestic quarrels, and keeps company in pleasures and pains; she is called *josiyā* because by her tricks and devices she keeps men under her subjugation; she is called *vanitā* because she caters to the taste of man with various blandishments.⁴ It is said of women "the intelligent may know the sands of the Ganges, the waters in the sea, and the size of the Himavat, women's heart they may not know" "They weep and make you weep, they tell lies and make you believe them, and deceitfully they eat poison; they die, but they do not conceive a true affection." "Woman indeed, as soon as she has fallen in love is all sugar like a piece of sugarcane, the very same woman surpasses the bitter *nimba*, as soon as her love is gone"