Moksha and Svarga through Dāna, Tīrtha, Nāma-smaraṇa, and Bhāva
या स्त्री सवर्णा संशुबा मृतं पतिमनुव्रजेत् / सा मृता स्वर्गमाप्नोति वर्षाणां रोमसंख्यता
yā strī savarṇā saṃśubā mṛtaṃ patimanuvrajet / sā mṛtā svargamāpnoti varṣāṇāṃ romasaṃkhyatā
Die Frau derselben Varṇa, von tugendhaftem Wandel, die ihrem Gatten selbst im Tod folgt—wenn sie stirbt, erlangt sie den Himmel für so viele Jahre, wie Haare am Körper sind, also für unermesslich lange Zeit.
Lord Vishnu
Afterlife Stage: Svarga
Concept: Pativratā ideal: a virtuous wife ‘following’ the husband is praised as yielding vast svarga-phala.
Vedantic Theme: Dharma and karma-phala are powerful yet remain within samsaric reward; liberation is not explicitly taught here.
Application: Read as emphasizing loyalty and ethical steadfastness; in modern application, interpret ‘anugamana’ as unwavering support and shared dharmic life rather than self-harm.
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: loka
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.38.30-32 (immediate continuation on anugamana and its fruits)
This verse presents pativrata-oriented fidelity as a highly meritorious dharma, stating that such virtue yields an immense heavenly reward measured hyperbolically as “as many years as there are hairs.”
It links a specific dharmic conduct (virtuous devotion and ‘following’ the husband) with a specific post-death result—attaining svarga—showing the Purana’s karma-to-fruit mapping for afterlife outcomes.
Treat it as a call to steadfast ethical conduct and loyalty within one’s responsibilities; in modern practice, emphasize integrity, compassion, and dharmic living rather than literalizing harmful acts.