Shloka 34

Gradations of Bliss and Knowledge; Lakṣmī’s Special Insight; The Rarity of Bhakti in Kali-yuga; Nīlā’s Vow and Śrīnivāsa Darśana

Devanagari script

देवस्त्रियो निजभर्तॄन्विहायु तत्र स्थितं प्रीणयन्त्येव नित्यम् / अतश्च ताः सधवाः सर्वदैव लोकैर्वन्द्या नात्र विचार्यमस्ति

Transliteration

devastriyo nijabhartṝnvihāyu tatra sthitaṃ prīṇayantyeva nityam / ataśca tāḥ sadhavāḥ sarvadaiva lokairvandyā nātra vicāryamasti

Translation

天なる女性たちは、他の一切を退けて自らの夫に貞節を尽くし、そこに住まう御方を常に喜ばせる。ゆえに、その徳高く貞なる妻たちは、あらゆる世界において常に礼拝されるべきであり、疑う余地はない。

Word by Word

• deva-striyaḥ: the divine women (wives of gods)
• deva-striyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + strī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; tatpuruṣa: devānāṃ striyaḥ (wives of the gods)

• nija-bhartṝn: their own husbands
• nija-bhartṝn: Karma (कर्म; object of vihāya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nija (प्रातिपदिक) + bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural; karmadhāraya: nijāḥ bhartāraḥ (their own husbands)

• vihāya: having left
• vihāya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√hā (हा धातु)
• Form: Gerund (ल्यप्): having abandoned/after leaving

• tatra: there
• tatra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• sthitam: situated/remaining
• sthitam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sthita (कृदन्त from √sthā)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular; past participle (क्त) qualifying implied 'bhartāram/jīvam'

• prīṇayanti: they please/satisfy
• prīṇayanti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √prī (प्री धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• eva: indeed
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (अवधारण)

• nityam: always
• nityam: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nitya (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Adverbial accusative (क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण)

• ataḥ: therefore
• ataḥ: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb/particle (हेतौ; therefore)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• tāḥ: they (those women)
• tāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (तद् सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural

• sa-dhavāḥ: with husbands (fortunate)
• sa-dhavāḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (सह/सम् उपसर्गसदृश) + dhavā (धव/पति-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; karmadhāraya: saha-dhavāḥ = having husbands (not widows)

• sarvadā: always
• sarvadā: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvadā (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (कालवाचक)

• lokaiḥ: by the people/worlds
• lokaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण; agent-instrument in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd), Plural

• vandyāḥ: worthy of reverence
• vandyāḥ: Pradhāna-nāma (predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vandya (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √vand)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative, Plural; predicate adjective

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle

• atra: here/in this matter
• atra: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देशाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक)

• vicāryam: (anything) to be deliberated
• vicāryam: Karta (कर्ता; subject of asti)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicārya (कृदन्त from vi-√car/√cint ‘to consider’)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular; gerundive (णीयत्/यत्) sense: 'to be considered'

• asti: is
• asti: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √as (अस् धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pativratā-dharma: exclusive devotion to one’s husband as a sanctifying vow, leading to honor across worlds.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; niṣṭhā (one-pointedness) as a bridge from worldly role to spiritual steadiness.

Application: Cultivate fidelity, steadiness, and service within committed relationships; translate ‘pleasing the indwelling Lord’ into conscientious care, truthfulness, and restraint.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sections praising strī-dharma/pativratā and linking it to auspicious destiny and devotion

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Deva-striyaḥ (celestial women)
• Bhartṛ (husband)

FAQs

What is the importance of sadhvī-dharma (the conduct of a faithful wife) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse states that virtuous, faithful wives (sadhavāḥ) are universally revered because their steadfast devotion continually pleases the divine presence, making their conduct a celebrated form of dharma.

How does this verse connect devotion to spiritual reward in the Garuda Purana?

It links unwavering marital fidelity and single-pointed devotion with the act of pleasing the divine (prīṇayanti nityam), implying that such dharma generates merit recognized across realms.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice integrity, loyalty, and responsibility in relationships; treat marital commitment as a discipline of dharma—steady conduct and self-restraint cultivate respect and inner spiritual strength.