Shloka 11

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

लक्ष्मणश्चाथ शत्रुघ्नो रामभार्या च जानकी / रामश्च पितृसत्यार्थं मातृभ्यो हितमाचरन्

Transliteration

lakṣmaṇaścātha śatrughno rāmabhāryā ca jānakī / rāmaśca pitṛsatyārthaṃ mātṛbhyo hitamācaran

Translation

അപ്പോൾ ലക്ഷ്മണനും ശത്രുഘ്നനും രാമഭാര്യയായ ജാനകിയും—രാമനും കൂടി—പിതാവിന്റെ സത്യവാക്ക് പാലിക്കാനായി, മാതാക്കളുടെ ഹിതത്തിനനുസരിച്ച് പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു.

Word by Word

• लक्ष्मणः: Lakṣmaṇa
• लक्ष्मणः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• अथ: then/also
• अथ: Sambandha (Discourse link/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तर/प्रारम्भ-बोधक निपात (particle)

• शत्रुघ्नः: Śatrughna
• शत्रुघ्नः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रुघ्न (प्रातिपदिक; शत्रु + घ्न)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘शत्रूणां घ्नः’)

• रामभार्या: Rāma's wife
• रामभार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम + भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘रामस्य भार्या’)

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

• जानकी: Jānakī (Sītā)
• जानकी: Karta (Apposition/समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• रामः: Rāma
• रामः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

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

• पितृसत्यार्थम्: for the sake of the father's truth/promise
• पितृसत्यार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पितृ + सत्य + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (उद्देश्य/प्रयोजन), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘पितॄणां सत्यस्य अर्थम्’/‘पितृसत्यस्य अर्थम्’)

• मातृभ्यः: to the mothers
• मातृभ्यः: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), बहुवचन

• हितम्: what is beneficial
• हितम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हित (प्रातिपदिक; √हि/धा-आधारित ‘हित’ = कल्याण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• आचरन्: practised/performed
• आचरन्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + चर् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (अनद्यतनभूत/imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; (पाठे ‘आचरन्’ इति रूपं)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrative voice to Garuda; traditional dialogue context)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Satya and pitṛ-vākya-paripālana: upholding a father’s truthful pledge; compassionate conduct toward mothers and family harmony.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a purifier of mind (citta-śuddhi) enabling higher realization; surrender of personal preference to righteous obligation.

Application: Keep promises even when costly; act with empathy toward caregivers; choose integrity over convenience in family and public life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: royal household/court

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana’s Rāma-kathā sequence emphasizing satya and dharma as exemplary conduct

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Lakshmana
• Shatrughna
• Janaki
• Pitri (father)

FAQs

What is the importance of pitṛ-satya (a father's truth/promise) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights dharma as fidelity to truth and pledged duty—Rāma and his family act to uphold their father’s promise, treating truth as a binding moral obligation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it frames righteous conduct (dharma) as the foundation for auspicious outcomes; ethical actions and truthfulness are presented as guiding principles that support spiritual well-being.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Honor commitments, especially those tied to family responsibility, and act in ways that protect and benefit caregivers/elders—truthfulness and considerate conduct are treated as core dharma.