This is one of the most misinterpreted verses of Ramcharitmanas. Tulsidas had no intention of showing women low by citing this verse.
We have to see the context of the verse:
This verse isn't told by Ram or Tulsidas himself. This was told by "sea god" in fearful state begging his life. He can tell anything in life saving condition. Furthermore here he is shown as a villain. Ram tells him idiot. Kakbhusundi tells him नीच . So there is no importance of citing this verse. One can't condemn the writer of a film by citing the verse of antagonist, this case is similar.
This happens in Sundara kanda of Ramcharitmanas as following:
विनय न मानत जलधि जड़ गए तीनि दिन बीती।
बोले राम सकोप तब भय बिनु होई न प्रीति ।।
Three days had elapsed, the crass ocean would not answer the Lords prayer. Råma thereupon indignantly said
"There can be no love without
inspiring fear."
लछिमन बान सरासन आनू ।
सोषों बारिधि बिसिख कृसानू।।
सठ सन बिनय कुटिल सन प्रीती ।
सहज कृपन सन सुंदर नीती।।
ममता रत सन ग्यान कहानी।
अति लोभी सन बिरति बखानी।।
क्रोधिहि सम कामिहि हरि कथा ।
ऊसर बीज बएं फल जथा।। २
अस कहि रघुपति चाप चढावा ।
यह मत लछिमन के मन भावा।।
संधानेउ प्रभु बिसिख कराला ।
उठी उदधि उर अंतर ज्वाला।।
मकर उरग झष गन अकुलाने ।
जात जंतु जलनिधि जब जाने ।।
कनक आर भरि मनि गन नाना ।
बिप्र रूप धरी आयउ तजि माना।। ४
Lakshmana, bring Me My bow and arrows; I may as well dry up the ocean with a missile presided over by the god of fire. Supplication before an idiot , friendship with a rogue, inculcating liberality on a born miser, talking wisdom to one steeped
in worldliness, glorifying dispassion before a man of excessive greed, a lecture on
mindcontrol to an irascible man and a discourse on the exploits of Hari to a libidinous person are as futile as sowing seeds in a barren land. So saying, the
Lord of theRaghus strung His bow and this stand (of the Lord) delighted Lakshmans
heart. When the Lord fitted the terrible arrow to His bow, a blazing fire broke out in the
heart of the ocean; the alligators, serpents and fishes felt distressed. When the god presiding over the ocean found the creatures burning, he gave up his pride and,
assuming the form of a Brahmana, came with a gold plate filled with all kinds.
काटेहिं पइ कदरी फरइ कोटि जतन कोउ सींच।
बिनय न मान खगेस सुनु डाटेहिं पइ नव नीच ।। ५८ ।।
Though one may take infinite pains in watering a plantain it will not bear fruit unless it is hewed. Similarly, mark me, O king of birds, (continues Kakbhusundi) a vile fellow heeds no prayer but yields only when reprimanded.
सभय सिंधु गहि पद प्रभु केरे ।
छमहु नाश सब अवगुन मेरे।।
गगन समीर अनल जल धरनी ।
इन्ह कइ नाथ सहज जड़ करनी।।
तब प्रेरित मायाॅ उपजाए।
सृष्टि हेतु सब ग्रंथनि गाए।।
प्रभु आयसु जेहि कहं अस कहई ।
सो तेहि भाॅति रहें सुख लहई।। २ ।।
प्रभु भल कीन्ह मोहि सिख दीन्ही।
मरजादा पुनि तुम्हरी कीन्ही।।
ढोल गवांर सूद्र पसु नारी ।
सकल ताड़ना के अधिकारी।। ३ ।।
प्रभु प्रताप मैं जाब सुखाई ।
उर्तारेहि कटकु न मोरि बडाई।।
प्रभु अग्या अपेल श्रुति गाईं ।
करौं सो बेगि जो तुम्हहि सोहाई।। ४।।
The god presiding over the ocean clasped the Lordís feet in dismay. Forgive, my lord, all my faults. Ether, air, fire, water and earth all these, my lord, are inert by nature. It
is Måyå (Cosmic Nature) which brought them forth for the purpose of creation under an inspiration from You; so declare all the scriptures. One would attain happiness in life only by remaining where he has been placed by the Lord. My Lord has done well in giving me a lesson; but You have fixed certain innate treat for everyone. A drum, a rustic, a sudra, a beast and a woman all these deserve instructions. ll be dried up
and the army will cross over; but this will bring no credit to me. Your command, however is inviolable; thus declare the Vedas, I shall do at once what pleases You.
Further the verse can be taken as positively also :
ढोल गवाॅर = ignorant who is like dhol (without intellect)
सूद्र पशु नारी = women with low animal character
Similarly there are other dialogues too spoken by others. In Chaupai of 4th Doha of Aryanya kanda Anusuya tells Sita
धीरज धरम मित्र अरु नारी ।
आपद काल परखिये चारी ।।
Patience, Religion, Friend and Women are tested in difficult times.
Here 'women' are compared with 'religion', 'friend', i.e. with good qualities.
Hence these are all due to the context or person who is telling.
