Shloka 21

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

सुरापि व्याधिता द्वेष्ट्री वन्ध्यार्थघ्न्यप्रियंवदा / अधिविन्ना च भर्तव्या महदेनोन्यथा भवेत्

Transliteration

surāpi vyādhitā dveṣṭrī vandhyārthaghnyapriyaṃvadā / adhivinnā ca bhartavyā mahadenonyathā bhavet

Translation

ഭാര്യ മദ്യാസക്തയായാലും, ദീർഘരോഗിണിയായാലും, ദ്വേഷിണിയായാലും, വന്ധ്യയായാലും, ധനം നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നവളായാലും, അല്ലെങ്കിൽ (മറുവശത്ത്) മധുരവാക്യങ്ങൾ പറയുന്നവളായാലും; മറ്റൊരു ഭാര്യയാൽ അധിവിന്നയായാലും—അവളെ പോഷിക്കണം. അല്ലെങ്കിൽ മഹാപാപം സംഭവിക്കും.

Word by Word

• सुरा: a woman given to liquor / a drunkard (woman)
• सुरा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

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

• व्याधिता: diseased, afflicted
• व्याधिता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधित (√व्यध्/√व्याध्, क्त-कृदन्त)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• द्वेष्ट्री: a hater, hostile woman
• द्वेष्ट्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वेष्टृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वन्ध्या: barren
• वन्ध्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वन्ध्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अर्थघ्नी: destroying wealth/benefit
• अर्थघ्नी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्थघ्निन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• प्रियंवदा: sweet-speaking
• प्रियंवदा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + वद (√वद्, धातु; कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारयः (प्रियं वदति इति)

• अधिविन्ना: a superseded wife / one with a co-wife
• अधिविन्ना: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधिविन्न (√विद्/√विन्द्, क्त-कृदन्त; 'अधि' उपसर्ग)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; 'अधिविन्ना' = पूर्वविवाहिता/परिणीता (a woman with a co-wife; superseded wife)

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

• भर्तव्या: should be maintained/supported
• भर्तव्या: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भृ (धातु) + तव्य (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: तव्यत्-कृदन्त (gerundive/passive necessity), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; अर्थः 'भर्तुं योग्य/कर्तव्या'

• महत्: great
• महत्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन (महद्)

• एनः: sin, offence
• एनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अन्यथा: otherwise
• अन्यथा: Sambandha (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: 'otherwise')

• भवेत्: would be, should become
• भवेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in dialogue with Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Maintenance (bharaṇa) of one’s wife is a binding duty even amid faults or misfortunes; neglect incurs great demerit.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as discipline of ego-reaction (dveṣa) and aversion; steadiness in duty purifies the mind (citta-śuddhi).

Application: Provide support and care, especially in illness; in modern terms, ensure welfare, healthcare access, and fair separation processes if needed, without abandonment.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95.22 (harmony fosters trivarga)

FAQs

What is the importance of wife-maintenance (bharaṇa/poṣaṇa) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats a husband’s duty to maintain his wife as a binding dharma; failing to support her is explicitly called a “great sin,” regardless of her faults or circumstances.

How does this verse relate to karma and moral accountability in the Garuda Purana?

It frames neglect of dependent obligations—especially within the household—as a source of heavy demerit (enaḥ), emphasizing that dharma is judged by one’s responsibilities, not only by others’ behavior.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold material support and basic care for dependents, especially spouses, even amid conflict or hardship; seek lawful/ethical remedies for disputes, but do not abandon responsibility.