Shloka 79

Adhyaya 50 — Mind-Born Progeny, Svayambhuva Manu’s Lineage, and Brahmā’s Ordinance to Duḥsaha (Alakṣmī’s Retinue)

Sanskrit

यत्र पुत्रो गुरोः पूजां देवानाञ्च तथा पितुः ।

पत्नी च भर्तुः कुरुते तत्रालक्ष्मीभयं कुतः ॥

Transliteration

yatra putro guroḥ pūjāṃ devānāñ ca tathā pituḥ | patnī ca bhartuḥ kurute tatrālakṣmī-bhayaṃ kutaḥ ||

Translation

Where a son worships his teacher, the gods, and likewise his father—and where the wife serves and honors her husband—how could fear of Alakṣmī (misfortune) exist there?

Word by Word

• yatra: where
• yatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सम्बन्धबोधक-अव्यय (relative adverb: 'where')

• putraḥ: son
• putraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन (Singular)

• guroḥ: of the teacher
• guroḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• pūjām: worship, reverence
• pūjām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pūjā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative); एकवचन

• devānām: of the gods
• devānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); बहुवचन (Plural)

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• tathā: likewise
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/समुच्चयार्थक (adverb: 'likewise/also')

• pituḥ: of the father
• pituḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• patnī: wife
• patnī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: patnī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/Nominative); एकवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive); एकवचन

• kurute: does, performs
• kurute: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present); आत्मनेपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (adverb: 'there')

• alakṣmī-bhayam: fear of misfortune
• alakṣmī-bhayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a-lakṣmī + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd); एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (genitive tatpuruṣa: 'fear of misfortune')

• kutaḥ: from where? how (could it be)?
• kutaḥ: Hetu/Prashna (हेतु/प्रश्न)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kutaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्नार्थक (interrogative adverb: 'whence/how')

Speakers

• Didactic voice addressing a Yakṣa (as indicated by vocative 'yakṣa' in adjacent verses); household-instruction context

Primary Deities

• Lakṣmī (conceptual presence)
• Devas (collective)

Shakti Aspects

• Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī (auspiciousness vs. misfortune; not the Devī Māhātmya battle-forms)

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Gṛhastha-dharma
• Guru-pūjā
• Pitṛ-bhakti
• Auspiciousness
• Domestic ethics

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Prosperity and well-being are framed as consequences of right relationship and reverence: honoring guru, gods, and father, and maintaining harmonious marital duty. Social-ethical order (dharma) is treated as the true ward against misfortune.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Primarily outside pañcalakṣaṇa narration (sarga/pratisarga/vaṃśa/manvantara/vaṃśānucarita). It belongs to ancillary dharma-upadeśa (ethical instruction) embedded in the Purāṇic discourse.

What is the esoteric significance?

Lakṣmī/Alakṣmī symbolize inner and outer fortune: reverence, gratitude, and disciplined domestic life ‘invite’ Lakṣmī, while neglect and discord ‘invite’ Alakṣmī. The home becomes a spiritual field shaped by conduct.