Shloka 30
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
काचित्पातयते नारी काचिदुद्धरते कुलम् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुलजामुद्वहेद्बुधः
kācitpātayate nārī kāciduddharate kulam | tasmātsarvaprayatnena kulajāmudvahedbudhaḥ
بعضُ النساءِ يُسقِطنَ الأسرةَ في الهلاك، وأخرياتٌ يرفعنَ السلالةَ ويُخلِّصنَها. لذلك ينبغي للحكيم، بكلِّ جهدٍ، أن يتزوّج امرأةً من بيتٍ صالحٍ كريم.
Unspecified narrator (contextual didactic statement within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa); commonly transmitted within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework
Concept: Marriage choices shape the moral and social trajectory of a lineage; discernment is a dharmic duty.
Application: Choose partnerships with attention to character, values, and family culture; prioritize virtue and stability over impulse.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A calm domestic threshold scene: a wise elder gestures toward two symbolic paths—one flourishing with lamps, grain, and sacred threads, the other withered and shadowed—showing how a spouse can uplift or ruin a household. In the background, a wedding pavilion stands ready, emphasizing discernment before commitment.","primary_figures":["A wise counselor (buddha)","Prospective bride and groom (archetypal)","Household deities as subtle icons (Viṣṇu/Lakṣmī presence via symbols)"],"setting":"Village courtyard with a maṇḍapa, kalasha pots, mango leaves, and a family shrine; two contrasting symbolic vignettes at the sides.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","warm gold","leaf green","ivory","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: wedding-maṇḍapa tableau with gold-leaf arches, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa icons in the shrine, richly patterned textiles; the wise elder centered with a teaching gesture, gem-studded ornaments, deep red and green drapery, auspicious motifs (kalasha, conch, lotus).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical courtyard scene with delicate faces and soft gradients; the elder instructs the couple near a small shrine, flowering trees and distant hills; subtle symbolism—one side blooming, the other sparse—rendered with refined brushwork.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical maṇḍapa composition, bold outlines, flat pigments; auspicious lamps and kalasha, stylized eyes; Viṣṇu’s presence suggested through conch-disc emblems in the shrine, strong reds/yellows/greens.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic dharma pichwai with ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; central maṇḍapa, side panels showing ‘kula uplift’ with cows, lamps, and grain; deep indigo background with gold detailing, auspicious Vaishnava symbols."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft veena drone","courtyard birds","gentle hand-claps (tāla)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kācitpātayate = kācit + pātayate; kāciduddharate = kācit + uddharate; tasmātsarvaprayatnena = tasmāt + sarva-prayatnena; kulajāmudvahet = kula-jām + udvahet; udvahedbudhaḥ = udvahet + budhaḥ.
FAQs
It advises that marriage has major consequences for a family’s welfare, so a prudent person should choose a spouse of good character and stable family background (kula) with great care.
No. It explicitly distinguishes: some women can contribute to a family’s decline, while others can uplift and protect a lineage—highlighting individual conduct rather than a single uniform claim.
As part of household (gṛhastha) ethics, it stresses responsibility, discernment, and the long-term social-spiritual impact of one’s choices—especially marriage—on family continuity and reputation.