Shloka 19

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

सोमः शौचं ददौ तासां गन्धर्वश्च सुभां गिरम् / पावकः सर्वमेध्यत्वं मेध्या वै योषितो यतः

Transliteration

somaḥ śaucaṃ dadau tāsāṃ gandharvaśca subhāṃ giram / pāvakaḥ sarvamedhyatvaṃ medhyā vai yoṣito yataḥ

Translation

Soma bestowed purity upon them; the Gandharva granted them a beautiful voice; and Pāvaka conferred complete ritual purity—because women are indeed considered ritually pure.

Word by Word

• सोमः: Soma
• सोमः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सोम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• शौचम्: purity, cleanliness
• शौचम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शौच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• ददौ: gave
• ददौ: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• तासाम्: of them (those women)
• तासाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• गन्धर्वः: Gandharva
• गन्धर्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• सुभाम्: pleasant, auspicious
• सुभाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• गिरम्: speech, voice
• गिरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिर् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• पावकः: Fire (Pāvaka)
• पावकः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पावक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• सर्वमेध्यत्वम्: complete purity/fitness for rites
• सर्वमेध्यत्वम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + मेध्यत्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (सर्वं मेध्यत्वम्)

• मेध्याः: pure, ritually fit
• मेध्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: मेध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• योषितः: women
• योषितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• यतः: since, because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक-अव्यय (causal adverb: 'because/since')

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual purity (medhyatva/śauca) is divinely grounded; women are affirmed as inherently fit for ritual contexts.

Vedantic Theme: Purity as a functional dharmic category rather than an ultimate measure of ātman; the Self remains untouched while dharma governs conduct.

Application: Counter blanket stigmas around women’s ritual status; cultivate respectful speech and cleanliness as shared household virtues.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: cosmic agencies

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95.22 (harmony and fidelity as dharma-supporting)

Characters & Entities

• Soma
• Gandharva
• Pavaka (Agni)

FAQs

What is the importance of ritual purity (śauca/medhya) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse links purity to divine endowments—Soma grants śauca and Agni grants sarva-medhyatva—showing that purity is treated as a sacred qualification for dharmic life and rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana narrative?

Indirectly: by emphasizing purity and right qualities (śauca, auspicious speech), it points to the ethical-ritual foundations that support favorable outcomes in post-death rites and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain cleanliness and self-discipline (śauca), cultivate truthful and gentle speech, and approach religious observances with reverence for purity as a dharmic value.