Shloka 10

Nīti on Friendship (Mitra), Discretion, Restraint, Health-Regimens, Prosperity (Śrī), and Family Dharma

Devanagari script

एक वै सेवते नित्यमन्यश्चेतपि रोचते / पुरुषाणामलाभेन नारी चैव पतिव्रता

Transliteration

eka vai sevate nityamanyaścetapi rocate / puruṣāṇāmalābhena nārī caiva pativratā

Translation

امرأةٌ تخدم زوجها دائمًا، وأخرى قد تميلُ إلى غيره؛ غير أنّه إذا لم يُوجَد الرجالُ أو تعذّروا، عُدَّت المرأةُ «پَتِڤْرَتا» (pativratā)، أي المخلصةَ لزوجها.

Word by Word

• एकः: one (man)
• एकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• सेवते: serves/associates with
• सेवते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सेव् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Adhikarana (Adverbial/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण अव्ययीभाव (adverbial accusative)

• अन्यः: another (man)
• अन्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• चेत्: if
• चेत्: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चेत् (अव्यय)
• Form: शर्तार्थक-अव्यय (conditional particle: if)

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक निपात (also/even)

• रोचते: pleases/is liked
• रोचते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √रुच् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• पुरुषाणाम्: of men
• पुरुषाणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• अलाभेन: by non-attainment/lack
• अलाभेन: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अलाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• नारी: a woman
• नारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक निपात (emphatic: only/indeed)

• पतिव्रता: devoted to her husband
• पतिव्रता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पतिः यस्याः व्रतम्)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra, in the Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Social labels (pativratā) may be assigned by circumstance rather than inner intention; dharma discourse can reflect pragmatic social judgments.

Vedantic Theme: Distinction between inner saṅkalpa (intention) and outer karma (action); the world judges by vyavahāra, not paramārtha.

Application: Cultivate integrity where intention and action align; avoid judging others’ virtue solely by outward circumstance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.114.9-13 (cluster on women, courtesans, and dangers)

FAQs

What is the importance of pativrata dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames pativrata as a status tied to conduct and circumstance, emphasizing household dharma and restraint rather than merely desire or attraction.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it points to dharmic self-control in worldly life—ethical restraint is treated in the Purana as shaping karma, which in turn influences post-death outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate fidelity and self-discipline in relationships; do not justify unethical choices by desire—align conduct with dharma even when tempted.