Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 39

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

Devanagari script

गृहार्थी सद‍ृशीं भार्यामुद्वहेदजुगुप्सिताम् । यवीयसीं तु वयसा यां सवर्णामनुक्रमात् ॥ ३९ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhārthī sadṛśīṁ bhāryām udvahed ajugupsitām yavīyasīṁ tu vayasā yāṁ sa-varṇām anu kramāt

Translation

ഗൃഹസ്ഥജീവിതം സ്ഥാപിക്കാൻ ആഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നവൻ തന്റെ വർണ്ണത്തിലെ, കുറ്റാരോപണം ഇല്ലാത്തതും വയസ്സിൽ ചെറുതുമായ ഭാര്യയെ വിവാഹം കഴിക്കണം. പല ഭാര്യമാരെ സ്വീകരിക്കണമെങ്കിൽ ആദ്യവിവാഹത്തിന് ശേഷം ക്രമമായി സ്വീകരിക്കണം; ഓരോ ഭാര്യയും ക്രമേണ താഴ്ന്ന വർണ്ണത്തിൽ നിന്നായിരിക്കണം.

Synonyms

• gṛha-arthī: desiring household life
• gṛha-arthī: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘gṛham arthayate’/‘gṛhasya arthī’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sadṛśīm: suitable/compatible
• sadṛśīm: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with bhāryām

• bhāryām: a wife
• bhāryām: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• udvahet: should marry/take (in marriage)
• udvahet: Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud√vah (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• ajugupsitām: not reprehensible; not to be shunned
• ajugupsitām: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (नञ्) + jugupsita (कृदन्त, √gup/√gups)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; negative prefix (नञ्) + past passive participle sense ‘not to be shunned’

• yavīyasīm: younger
• yavīyasīm: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: yavīyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular; comparative (यवीयसि) agreeing with bhāryām

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adversative/emphatic particle (तु)

• vayasā: by age (in age)
• vayasā: Karana (करण/instrument; measure)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vayas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• yām: whom
• yām: Karma (कर्म/object; relative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to bhāryām

• sa-varṇām: of the same varṇa (social class)
• sa-varṇām: Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (उपसर्ग/सह) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/उपपद: ‘sama-varṇā’); Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with bhāryām

• anu: according to; in order
• anu: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: Avyaya; preverb/adverb ‘in accordance with, successively’ (अनु)

• kramāt: in due sequence
• kramāt: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: krama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; used adverbially ‘in due order’

Purport

As stated in the Vedic literature,

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Uddhava

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about choosing a wife for household life?

In 11.17.39, Lord Krishna says a man intending household life should marry a compatible, respectable (not objectionable) wife, younger in age, and traditionally within the same varṇa according to prescribed order.

Why did Krishna teach these marriage guidelines to Uddhava in the Bhagavatam?

These instructions occur in Krishna’s teachings to Uddhava on varnashrama-dharma, showing how regulated social and family life can support purity, responsibility, and spiritual progress.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

Apply the principle of compatibility and character: choose a spouse with good conduct and shared values, and approach marriage as a dharmic responsibility that supports steady spiritual practice.