Shloka 27

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

स्वदारनिरतश्चैव स्त्रियो रक्ष्या यतस्ततः / भर्तृभ्रातृपितृज्ञातिश्वश्रूश्वशुरदेवरैः

Transliteration

svadāranirataścaiva striyo rakṣyā yatastataḥ / bhartṛbhrātṛpitṛjñātiśvaśrūśvaśuradevaraiḥ

Translation

A man should be devoted to his own wife; and women should be duly protected in every way—by the husband, brothers, father, relatives, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brothers-in-law.

Word by Word

• स्वदारनिरतः: devoted to his own wife
• स्वदारनिरतः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व + दार + निरत (प्रातिपदिक; √रम्/रि + नि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) एकवचनम्; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य दारेषु निरतः = devoted to one’s own wife); भूतकृदन्त-विशेषणम्

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

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्

• रक्ष्याः: to be protected
• रक्ष्याः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्ष्य (प्रातिपदिक; √रक्ष् + यत्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे प्रथमा (1st/Nominative) बहुवचनम्; विधेय-विशेषणम् (to be protected)

• यतः: because
• यतः: Hetu (Cause/हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; हेत्वर्थक/यत्-सम्बन्ध (because/for the reason that)

• ततः: therefore
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तद्-सम्बन्ध/तस्मात् (therefore/from that)

• भर्तृभ्रातृपितृज्ञातिश्वश्रूश्वशुरदेवरैः: by the husband, brothers, father, relatives, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brothers-in-law
• भर्तृभ्रातृपितृज्ञातिश्वश्रूश्वशुरदेवरैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ + भ्रातृ + पितृ + ज्ञाति + श्वश्रू + श्वशुर + देवर (प्रातिपदिकानि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental) बहुवचनम्; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः (by husband, brother, father, kinsmen, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brothers-in-law)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Be devoted to one’s own wife; women are to be protected by the husband and the wider family network (male kin and in-laws).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as social stability (loka-saṅgraha) and protection of the vulnerable; restraint of desire through svadāra-niyama.

Application: Practice marital fidelity; build real safety systems for women—family/community accountability, legal protection, and supportive care.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (gṛhastha norms; protection and regulation of conduct)

FAQs

What is the importance of women’s protection (strī-rakṣā) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames strī-rakṣā as a shared dharmic duty of the entire family network, emphasizing safety, dignity, and social order alongside marital fidelity.

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

Indirectly: by prescribing righteous conduct for householders, it supports the broader Garuda Purana theme that dharma in daily life shapes karmic outcomes and one’s post-death journey.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice marital fidelity, build accountable family/community support systems for women’s safety and wellbeing, and treat protection as responsibility—not control.