Shloka 2

Strīlakṣaṇa: Auspicious Marks, Domestic Ideals, and Saubhāgya Practices

Devanagari script

या च काञ्चनवर्णाभा रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा / सहस्राणां तु नारीणां भवेत्सापि पतिव्रता

Transliteration

yā ca kāñcanavarṇābhā raktahastasaroruhā / sahasrāṇāṃ tu nārīṇāṃ bhavetsāpi pativratā

Translation

La femme qui rayonne d’un teint d’or et dont les mains, aux paumes semblables au lotus, sont rouges—même parmi des milliers de femmes—doit être tenue pour pativratā, épouse vouée à son époux.

Word by Word

• या: who (she)
• या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय (conjunction)

• काञ्चनवर्णाभा: having a golden complexion
• काञ्चनवर्णाभा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काञ्चन (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आभा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (काञ्चनस्य वर्णस्य आभा यस्याः)

• रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा: with red hands and lotus-like (features)
• रक्तहस्तसरोरुहा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + हस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + सरोरुह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहु-तत्पुरुषः (रक्तौ हस्तौ, सरोरुहौ/सरोजसदृशौ)

• सहस्राणाम्: of thousands
• सहस्राणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तु: indeed; but
• तु: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• नारीणाम्: of women
• नारीणाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भवेत्: would be
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अपि: also; even
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), अपि=also/even

• पतिव्रता: devoted to her husband
• पतिव्रता: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पतेः व्रतम् यस्याः)

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: External auspicious marks are correlated with inner virtue of pativratā (marital fidelity/steadfastness).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonizing force in saṃsāra; sattva-associated auspiciousness (śubha-lakṣaṇa) reflecting inner disposition.

Application: As a cultural ideal-text: emphasize loyalty, integrity, and mutual commitment; reinterpret pativratā as reciprocal marital dharma rather than one-sided burden.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (strī-lakṣaṇa and marital outcomes)

FAQs

What is the importance of pativratā-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents pativratā as an esteemed dharmic ideal, highlighting exemplary qualities that mark a woman’s devoted conduct and social-religious virtue.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharma (right conduct), it implies that virtuous living supports favorable karmic outcomes, which the Garuda Purana later connects with post-death destinies.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a dharma-oriented reminder: cultivate fidelity, integrity, and responsibility in relationships rather than focusing only on outward descriptors.