Shloka 20
An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya
व्यभिचारादृतौशुद्धिर्गर्भेत्यागं करोति च / गर्भभर्तृवधे तासां तथा महति पातके
vyabhicārādṛtauśuddhirgarbhetyāgaṃ karoti ca / garbhabhartṛvadhe tāsāṃ tathā mahati pātake
વ્યભિચારથી ઋતુકાળની શુદ્ધિ નષ્ટ થાય છે, અને ગર્ભ ધારણ થતાં તે ગર્ભત્યાગ પણ કરી શકે છે. એવી સ્ત્રીઓ માટે ગર્ભવધ અને પતિવધ પણ મહાપાતકમાં ગણાય છે।
Lord Viṣṇu (addressing Garuḍa)
Concept: Transgression corrupts śauca and generates heavy pāpa; abortion (garbha-tyāga) and spousal harm are treated as mahāpātaka-level acts.
Vedantic Theme: Karma as moral causality binding the jīva; violation of ahiṃsā and trust intensifies bondage.
Application: Uphold non-harm and responsibility in sexual ethics; in modern terms, address reproductive decisions with compassion, legality, and protection from coercion/violence, while recognizing the text’s strong deterrent framing.
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: raudra
Type: household/body (ṛtu, garbha)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95.18 (sanctions for vyabhicāra); Garuda Purana 1.95.21 (sin of neglecting wife)
FAQs
This verse frames adultery as a serious breach of dharma that damages ritual and moral purity, and it is linked with escalating grave harms such as abandoning or killing a fetus—thereby increasing karmic demerit (pātaka).
While not describing the after-death journey directly, it classifies certain actions as “great sins” (mahati pātaka), implying heavier karmic burden that leads to harsher post-mortem consequences in the Purāṇic framework.
Uphold fidelity, responsibility, and non-harm; treat sexuality and family duties as ethical commitments, since actions that violate trust and life-bearing responsibility are portrayed as spiritually and socially destructive.