Shloka 18
Dṛṣṭānta on Siddhi: Pitṛ-Procedure, Non-Delusion, and Vyākaraṇa Classifications
भ्रूः पुनर्भूस्तथा धेनुः स्वसा माता च नौ स्त्रियः / वाक्स्रग्दिङ्मुत्क्रुधः प्रायो युवतिः कुकुभस्तथा
bhrūḥ punarbhūstathā dhenuḥ svasā mātā ca nau striyaḥ / vāksragdiṅmutkrudhaḥ prāyo yuvatiḥ kukubhastathā
Die Augenbraue; Bhū (die Erde als wiedergeborene Gestalt); die Kuh; die Schwester; und die Mutter—diese werden zu den neun „weiblichen“ gezählt. Ebenso gelten Rede (vāk), Blumengirlande, die Himmelsrichtungen, Freude, Zorn und im Allgemeinen die junge Frau als so bezeichnet.
Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Conceptual grouping: relational (mother/sister), natural (cow/earth), and abstract (speech/directions/emotions) treated under a single grammatical convention.
Vedantic Theme: Mind’s structuring power: the same consciousness organizes disparate phenomena through linguistic categories.
Application: In interpretation, distinguish semantic class from grammatical gender; do not infer ‘female-ness’ from feminine gender—use it as a linguistic tool.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.206.15; Garuda Purana 1.206.16; Garuda Purana 1.206.17; Garuda Purana 1.206.19
FAQs
This verse groups certain revered or symbolically feminine principles (mother, sister, cow, etc.) as objects of special respect, reinforcing dharma through careful conduct and restraint.
By highlighting speech, anger, and relations like mother and sister, it points to everyday actions that generate karma—ethical behavior in ordinary life is treated as spiritually consequential.
Practice reverence and protection toward mother-like figures, avoid harmful speech, and cultivate control over anger—small disciplines that align daily life with dharma.