Shloka 5
An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya
यदुच्यते द्विजातीनां शूद्राद्दारोपसंग्रहः / न तन्मम मतं यस्मात्तत्रायं जायते स्वयम्
yaducyate dvijātīnāṃ śūdrāddāropasaṃgrahaḥ / na tanmama mataṃ yasmāttatrāyaṃ jāyate svayam
وأمّا ما يُقال إنّ ذوي الميلادين (dvija) يجوز لهم أن يتزوّجوا من الشُّودرا (Śūdra)، فليس ذلك رأيي؛ لأنّ من مثل هذا الاقتران تنشأ هذه الذرّية بعينها من تلقاء نفسها.
Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)
Concept: Rejection of the view that dvijas may take a Śūdra wife; the text frames such union as producing an undesirable outcome (issue/progeny/complication) inherently.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social-ritual order; consequences (phala) arise naturally from actions (karma) within prescribed norms.
Application: Understand that traditional texts often legislate social boundaries; in contemporary application, distinguish historical varṇa norms from modern legal/ethical equality while still learning the broader principle: choices have consequences for family systems.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: bibhatsa
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (inter-varṇa marriage discussion)
FAQs
This verse frames marriage as a dharma issue in Ācāra Kāṇḍa, emphasizing that certain unions are not endorsed because they are believed to produce problematic social and ritual consequences.
Indirectly: by stressing dharmic conduct (ācāra) in household life, it implies that one’s choices—especially in marriage and lineage duties—shape karma and thus affect post-death outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Garuḍa Purāṇa.
Read it as a reminder to approach marriage and family life with responsibility, ethical clarity, and awareness of long-term consequences—choosing relationships that support mutual duty, stability, and virtuous living.