Shloka 15

Puṣkara Sacrifice: Gāyatrī’s Marriage, Sāvitrī’s Wrath, Rudra’s Test, and the Tīrtha-Māhātmya

Devanagari script

धर्मवंतं सदाचारं भवंतं धर्मवत्सलम् । मया ज्ञात्वा ततः कन्या दत्ता चैषा विरंचये

Transliteration

dharmavaṃtaṃ sadācāraṃ bhavaṃtaṃ dharmavatsalam | mayā jñātvā tataḥ kanyā dattā caiṣā viraṃcaye

Translation

আপনাকে ধর্মবান, সদাচারী ও ধর্ম-প্রিয় জেনে আমি এই কন্যাকে বিরঞ্চি (ব্রহ্মা)-র সঙ্গে বিবাহার্থে অর্পণ করলাম।

Word by Word

• धर्मवन्तम्: righteous, possessing dharma
• धर्मवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म; object of ज्ञात्वा)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-वन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; ‘धर्म’ + वन्त (possessive suffix)

• सदाचारम्: of good conduct
• सदाचारम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of implied person)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्-आचार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: सद् आचारः यस्य/सदाचारः

• भवन्तम्: you (honored one)
• भवन्तम्: Karma (कर्म; addressed person as object of knowing)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भवत् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक/भवद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; आदरार्थक द्वितीय-पुरुष-सर्वनाम (honorific ‘you’)

• धर्मवत्सलम्: affectionate toward dharma
• धर्मवत्सलम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण of भवन्तम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्म-वत्सल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: धर्मे वत्सलः

• मया: by me
• मया: Kartr̥ (कर्ता; agent of ज्ञात्वा)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उत्तमपुरुष-सर्वनाम, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययभाव (gerund/absolutive), ‘having known’

• ततः: then, thereafter
• ततः: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद्-तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय, अपादान/क्रमसूचक (thereafter/then)

• कन्या: the maiden/daughter
• कन्या: Karma (कर्म; object implied with दत्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• दत्ता: was given
• दत्ता: Kriyā (क्रिया; predicate with implied ‘अस्ति’)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दा (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि (past participle) used predicatively; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• एषा: this (she)
• एषा: Karta (कर्ता; subject with दत्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; निर्देश-सर्वनाम (demonstrative)

• विरञ्चये: to Virañci (Brahmā)
• विरञ्चये: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान/Recipient)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विरञ्चि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी (4th/Dative), एकवचन; विरञ्चि=ब्रह्मा

Speaker

Unspecified (context-dependent narrator/speaker in Adhyaya 17; verse indicates a father/guardian giving a maiden in marriage)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैषा→च एषा.

Characters & Entities

• Virañci (Brahmā)

FAQs

What ethical ideal is praised in this verse?

The verse praises dharma (righteousness) and sadācāra (good conduct) as the decisive qualifications for a respected social and spiritual standing.

Why is Brahmā called “Virañci” here?

“Virañci” is a traditional epithet of Brahmā used in Purāṇic Sanskrit, functioning as an honorific name for the creator-deity.

What social duty is reflected in the act of “giving the maiden”?

It reflects the Purāṇic-cultural model of kanyādāna—marrying a daughter by entrusting her to a worthy groom—framed as an act guided by discernment of virtue.