Shloka 29

Devanagari script

श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः कुर्यात्पादयोर्वन्दनं सदा / क्रीडाशरीरसंस्कारसमाजोत्सवदशनम्

Transliteration

śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥ kuryātpādayorvandanaṃ sadā / krīḍāśarīrasaṃskārasamājotsavadaśanam

Translation

One should always bow at the feet of one’s mother-in-law and father-in-law, and also attend recreations, bodily rites of passage, social gatherings, and festive celebrations.

Word by Word

• श्वश्रू: of the mother-in-law
• श्वश्रू: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वश्रू (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन (समास/द्वन्द्वपूर्वपद); in dual genitive context

• श्वशुरयोः: of (one’s) mother-in-law and father-in-law
• श्वशुरयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वशुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमासः (श्वश्रू+श्वशुर) इतरेतरद्वन्द्व, षष्ठी-द्विवचन

• कुर्यात्: should do
• कुर्यात्: Kriyā (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष? (न), मध्यमपुरुष? (न) → तृतीयपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; should do

• पादयोः: of the feet
• पादयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; here षष्ठी (of the feet)

• वन्दनम्: salutation/bowing
• वन्दनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वन्दन (प्रातिपदिक; वन्द् धातु (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मपद (object)

• सदा: always
• सदा: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (Temporal)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय; adverb of time

• क्रीडा: play/sport
• क्रीडा: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रीडा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• शरीर: body
• शरीर: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• संस्कार: adornment/rite/refinement
• संस्कार: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• समाज: assembly/society
• समाज: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समाज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• उत्सव: festival
• उत्सव: Upapada (Compound member)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद); in compound

• दशनम्: seeing/attending (play, bodily adornment, gatherings, festivals)
• दशनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक; दृश् धातु (धातु) + ल्युट्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; समाहारद्वन्द्व/समुच्चयार्थ-समासः (क्रीडा+शरीरसंस्कार+समाज+उत्सव+दर्शन)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra, within the dharma-teachings section)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Gurujana-sevā (service to elders) and saṃskāra/utsava participation as stabilizers of family and society.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as relational duty (ṛṇa) that refines ego and fosters sattvic conduct.

Application: Maintain daily respect toward in-laws/elders; attend and support family rites (saṃskāras), community gatherings, and festivals with decorum and helpfulness.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: household/community space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (conduct toward elders; household observances)

FAQs

What is the importance of honoring in-laws in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats respectful salutation to one’s mother-in-law and father-in-law as a steady duty (sadā), reinforcing humility, family harmony, and dharmic household order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes dharmic conduct in daily life—right relationships and right behavior—which the Garuda Purana consistently links to auspicious karmic outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain consistent respect for elders/in-laws and participate appropriately in family/community rites and celebrations, strengthening social responsibility and ethical living.