Shloka 28

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

बन्धुभिश्च स्त्रियः पूज्या भूषणाच्छादनाशनैः / संयतो पस्करा दक्षा हृष्टा व्ययपराङ्मुखी

Transliteration

bandhubhiśca striyaḥ pūjyā bhūṣaṇācchādanāśanaiḥ / saṃyato paskarā dakṣā hṛṣṭā vyayaparāṅmukhī

Translation

আত্মীয়সকলে নাৰীক অলংকাৰ, বস্ত্ৰ আৰু অন্নেৰে পূজা-সম্মান কৰিব লাগে। তেওঁ সংযমী, সমৃদ্ধ, দক্ষ, প্ৰফুল্ল আৰু অপব্যয়-বিমুখ হওক।

Word by Word

• बन्धुभिः: by/with kinsmen
• बन्धुभिः: Sahakāraka (Associate/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण/सह), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक निपात; conjunction

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; Nominative plural

• पूज्याः: to be honored
• पूज्याः: Karta-pradhāna (Predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त; पूज् धातु (धातु) + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विधेयविशेषण; gerundive (to be honored)

• भूषण: ornament
• भूषण: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• आच्छादन: clothing/covering
• आच्छादन: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आच्छादन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• आशनैः: with ornaments, clothing, and food
• आशनैः: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (भूषण+आच्छादन+आशन) समाहारद्वन्द्व; Instrumental plural

• संयता: self-restrained
• संयता: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: संयत (कृदन्त; यम् धातु (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally

• पस्करा: clean/neat (well-groomed)
• पस्करा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पस्करा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• दक्षा: skilled/competent
• दक्षा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; गुणवाचक विशेषण

• हृष्टा: cheerful
• हृष्टा: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (कृदन्त; हृष् धातु (धातु) + क्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; past participle used adjectivally

• व्यय: expense
• व्यय: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: व्यय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• पराङ्मुखी: averse to spending
• पराङ्मुखी: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पराङ्मुखी (प्रातिपदिक; पराङ् + मुखिन्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (व्ययस्य पराङ्मुखी)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue with Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Strī-pūjā (honoring women) and household discipline as a support for dharma and prosperity.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a purifying framework that steadies the mind (antaḥkaraṇa-śuddhi) and supports sattva in worldly life.

Application: Ensure women in the family are materially cared for (food, clothing, ornaments as per means) and cultivate self-control, competence, cheerfulness, and non-wastefulness in household management.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (gṛhastha/strī-dharma sequence)

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring women in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames honoring women as a core element of household dharma—relatives should provide dignity and care through essentials and respectful treatment.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes righteous conduct (dharma) in family life, which the Garuda Purana treats as foundational for good karma that supports a favorable post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Ensure women in the family are treated with respect and materially supported, while cultivating self-control, competence, cheerfulness, and avoiding wasteful spending in the household.