Shloka 39

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

ग्राम्यधर्म न सेवेत स्वच्छन्देनार्थकोविद: । ऋतुकाले तु धर्मात्मा पत्नीमुपशयेत्‌ सदा,कार्यकुशल धर्मात्मा क्षत्रिय स्वच्छन्दतापूर्वक ग्राम्य धर्म (मैथुन) का सेवन न करे। केवल ऋतुकालमें ही सदा पत्नीके निकट शयन करे

Transliteration

grāmyadharmaṁ na seveta svacchandenārthakovidaḥ | ṛtukāle tu dharmātmā patnīm upaśayeta sadā ||

Translation

Maheshvara said: “A man skilled in discerning true benefit should not indulge, of his own whim, in ‘worldly’ sexual conduct. Rather, being devoted to dharma, he should approach and lie with his wife only in her proper season (fertile period), consistently observing this restraint.”

Word by Word

ग्राम्यधर्मम्worldly/sexual conduct (coitus as a worldly act)

नnot

सेवेतshould practice/indulge in

स्वच्छन्देनby (one's) own will; at will

अर्थकोविदःone who knows what is beneficial/meaningful

ऋतुकालेin the season (of fertility/menstrual period)

तुbut/indeed

धर्मात्माrighteous-minded person

पत्नीम्wife

उपशयेत्should lie with/approach for bed

सदाalways

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

Śrī-Maheśvara (Śiva)

patnī (wife)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Cross References

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined household sexuality: avoid pleasure-driven, self-willed indulgence, and approach one’s wife in accordance with dharma—traditionally, chiefly during her ṛtukāla (fertile period), emphasizing restraint and purposeful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara is giving a normative instruction on gṛhastha-dharma (householder ethics), defining ‘grāmyadharma’ as worldly sexual indulgence and prescribing regulated conjugal conduct aligned with righteousness and prudence.