Shloka 19

पुंसां क्रिया-विभागः, संस्काराः, नामकरणम्, विवाहविधानम्

Devanagari script

न घर्घरस्वरां क्षामवाक्यां काकस्वरां न च नातिबद्धेक्षणां तद्वद् वृत्ताक्षीं नोद्वहेत् स्त्रियम्

Transliteration

na ghargharasvarāṃ kṣāmavākyāṃ kākasvarāṃ na ca nātibaddhekṣaṇāṃ tadvad vṛttākṣīṃ nodvahet striyam

Translation

One should not marry a woman whose voice is harsh and grating, whose speech is thin and unpleasant, or whose tone resembles a crow’s cry; nor one whose gaze is excessively fixed. Likewise, one should not take as wife a woman with unnaturally round, staring eyes.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• घर्घरस्वराम्: with a harsh voice
• घर्घरस्वराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घर्घर + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; 'having a harsh/guttural voice'

• क्षामवाक्याम्: weak-spoken
• क्षामवाक्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षाम + वाक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; 'thin/feeble in speech'

• काकस्वराम्: crow-voiced
• काकस्वराम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काक + स्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; 'having a crow-like voice'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

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

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• अतिबद्धेक्षणाम्: with overly fixed gaze
• अतिबद्धेक्षणाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति + बद्ध + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम्; 'with overly fixed/staring eyes'

• तद्वत्: likewise
• तद्वत्: Sambandha (Manner/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद्वत् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तुलनार्थक-अव्यय (comparative adverb): 'likewise/so'

• वृत्ताक्षीम्: round-eyed
• वृत्ताक्षीम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृत्त + अक्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः—'having round eyes'

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• उद्वहेत्: should marry
• उद्वहेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (teaching Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Gṛhastha-dharma: omens and interpersonal harmony inferred from speech, voice, and gaze

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Speech and demeanor are treated as indicators of saṃskāra and future concord; thus harshness and unsettling gaze are warned against for household stability.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Value kindness in communication and emotional regulation as core criteria for partnership; cultivate vāṅ-mādhurya (gentle speech) to sustain harmony.

Vishishtadvaita: Right conduct (ācāra) is a supportive limb of bhakti in Vishishtadvaita: disciplined speech and mind become offerings to the indwelling Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya

FAQs

What is the significance of marriage guidelines in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames spouse-selection as part of dharma: household life is meant to support stability, virtue, and social order, which the Purana presents as aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining power.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct for householders here?

Parāśara gives practical markers for discernment in marriage, emphasizing restraint and suitability—qualities that help the gṛhastha life remain disciplined and dharmic.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when discussing social ethics, the Vishnu Purana treats dharma as grounded in the cosmic order upheld by Vishnu; righteous household life becomes a way of participating in that sustaining order.