Shloka 2

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

या च काञ्चनवर्णाभा रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा / सहस्राणां तु नारीणां भवेत्सापि पतिव्रता

Transliteration

yā ca kāñcanavarṇābhā raktahastasaroruhā / sahasrāṇāṃ tu nārīṇāṃ bhavetsāpi pativratā

Translation

المرأة التي تتلألأ بلونٍ ذهبي، وتكون يداها وكفّاها كزهرة اللوتس محمرّتَين—حتى بين آلاف النساء—تُعَدّ هي أيضًا pativratā، زوجةً مخلصةً لزوجها.

Word by Word

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• काञ्चनवर्णाभा: having a golden complexion
• काञ्चनवर्णाभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (काञ्चनस्य वर्णस्य आभा यस्याः)

• रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा: with red hands and lotus-like (features)
• रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (रक्तौ हस्तौ, सरोरुहौ/सरोजसदृशौ)

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि=also/even

• पतिव्रता: devoted to her husband
• पतिव्रता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External auspicious marks are correlated with inner virtue of pativratā (marital fidelity/steadfastness).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing force in saṃsāra; sattva-associated auspiciousness (śubha-lakṣaṇa) reflecting inner disposition.

Application: As a cultural ideal-text: emphasize loyalty, integrity, and mutual commitment; reinterpret pativratā as reciprocal marital dharma rather than one-sided burden.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (strī-lakṣaṇa and marital outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of pativratā-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pativratā as an esteemed dharmic ideal, highlighting exemplary qualities that mark a woman’s devoted conduct and social-religious virtue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharma (right conduct), it implies that virtuous living supports favorable karmic outcomes, which the Garuda Purana later connects with post-death destinies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a dharma-oriented reminder: cultivate fidelity, integrity, and responsibility in relationships rather than focusing only on outward descriptors.