Shloka 3

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

अरोगिणीं भ्रातृमतीमसमानार्षगोत्रजाम् / पञ्चमात्सप्तमादूर्ध्वं मातृतः पितृतस्तथा

Transliteration

arogiṇīṃ bhrātṛmatīmasamānārṣagotrajām / pañcamātsaptamādūrdhvaṃ mātṛtaḥ pitṛtastathā

Translation

Er soll eine gesunde Frau heiraten, die Brüder hat, nicht derselben ṛṣi‑Linie (ārṣa-gotra) angehört und jenseits der verbotenen Verwandtschaftsgrade steht—über dem fünften Grad mütterlicherseits und über dem siebten Grad väterlicherseits.

Word by Word

• अरोगिणीम्: healthy, free from disease (woman)
• अरोगिणीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-रोगिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• भ्रातृमतीम्: having brothers
• भ्रातृमतीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रातृमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (fem. acc. sg.)

• असमान: not same, non-identical
• असमान: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया एकवचन; समासपूर्वपदत्वेन अव्ययवत् (as pre-member)

• आर्ष: ṛṣi-related, of seer lineage
• आर्ष: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; गोत्रविशेषण (pertaining to ṛṣis)

• गोत्रजाम्: born of (a) gotra; of gotra lineage
• गोत्रजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गोत्र + जा (प्रातिपदिक; √जन् (धातु) से निष्पन्न)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः—गोत्रजा (गोत्रात् जाता)

• पञ्चमात्: from the fifth (generation)
• पञ्चमात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्चम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (अपादान), एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (abl. sg.)

• सप्तमात्: from the seventh (generation)
• सप्तमात्: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सप्तम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रमवाचक (abl. sg.)

• ऊर्ध्वम्: upwards; beyond; above
• ऊर्ध्वम्: Adhikarana (Locative sense/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ऊर्ध्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• मातृतः: on the mother’s side; maternally
• मातृतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• पितृतः: on the father’s side; paternally
• पितृतः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पितृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• तथा: likewise; also
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अव्ययपद—समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ (particle: ‘also/likewise’)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Vivāha-niyama: choosing a bride with health, brothers, different gotra, and outside prohibited kinship degrees (mātṛ/pitṛ sapinda limits).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier and stabilizer of saṃsāra; order (ṛta/dharma) supports sattva and social harmony.

Application: When arranging marriage, verify gotra/pravara, sapinda degrees (maternal >5, paternal >7), and basic wellbeing/compatibility to avoid prohibited unions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (vivāha-dharma context)

FAQs

What is the importance of gotra and kinship limits in Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes dharmic marriage selection: avoiding the same ṛṣi-gotra and avoiding close blood relations (specified by degrees on maternal and paternal lines) to preserve lineage propriety and social-religious order.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings?

Alongside afterlife and ritual teachings, the Garuda Purana also preserves dharma-based household guidance; here it outlines eligibility norms for marriage as part of righteous living (gṛhastha-dharma).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a general ethical takeaway: prioritize health, compatibility, and responsible family norms; in traditional practice, consult knowledgeable elders/purohitas on gotra and prohibited degrees before marriage.