Shloka 6

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

तिस्रो वर्णानुपूर्व्येण द्वे तथैका यथाक्रमम् / ब्राह्मणक्षत्त्रियविशां भार्याः स्वा शूद्रजन्मनः

Transliteration

tisro varṇānupūrvyeṇa dve tathaikā yathākramam / brāhmaṇakṣattriyaviśāṃ bhāryāḥ svā śūdrajanmanaḥ

Translation

വർണ്ണാനുക്രമത്തിൽ ബ്രാഹ്മണന് മൂന്ന്, ക്ഷത്രിയന് രണ്ട്, വൈശ്യന് ഒരു (ഭാര്യ) എന്നു പറയുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ശൂദ്രജന്മന് തന്റെ വർണ്ണത്തിലുള്ള ഭാര്യ മാത്രമേ വിധേയമായുള്ളൂ।

Word by Word

• तिस्रः: three
• तिस्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्यावाचक विशेषण

• वर्ण: varṇa; class
• वर्ण: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; पुंलिङ्ग (as member)

• अनुपूर्व्येण: in due order; sequentially
• अनुपूर्व्येण: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अनुपूर्व्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणवत् (instrumental used adverbially: ‘in order’)

• द्वे: two
• द्वे: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्यावाचक

• तथा: and likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/प्रकारार्थ

• एका: one
• एका: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक

• यथा: as; according to
• यथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमान/प्रकारार्थ (as/according as)

• क्रमम्: order; sequence
• क्रमम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोग (yathā-kramam = adverbial)

• ब्राह्मण: Brahmin
• ब्राह्मण: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; पुंलिङ्ग (as member)

• क्षत्त्रिय: Kṣatriya
• क्षत्त्रिय: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षत्त्रिय/क्षत्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासमध्यपद; पुंलिङ्ग (as member)

• विशाम्: of the Vaiśyas
• विशाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘वैश्य’ अर्थे (of Vaiśyas)

• भार्याः: wives
• भार्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्वाः: their own; proper
• स्वाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषण (agreeing with भार्याः)

• शूद्र: Śūdra
• शूद्र: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; पुंलिङ्ग (as member)

• जन्मनः: of birth; by birth
• जन्मनः: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जन्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (gen. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instructing Garuda/Vinata-putra, per common Garuda Purana framing)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Varṇa-based prescription of number/type of wives: brāhmaṇa (three), kṣatriya (two), vaiśya (one); śūdra restricted to his own varṇa wife.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as societal structuring principle; guṇa/karma-based social order as conceived in later tradition (not identical to Upaniṣadic non-dualism).

Application: As a historical dharma rule, it illustrates how texts systematize social roles; modern readers can extract the meta-principle: social institutions need clear, fair rules—while updating them to contemporary ethics and law.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (varṇa and marriage rules)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmaṇa
• Kṣatriya
• Vaiśya
• Śūdra

FAQs

What is the importance of varṇa-based order in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents a dharma-oriented framework of household conduct, stating a graded rule about the number and suitability of wives by varṇa, emphasizing adherence to prescribed social-ethical order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by stressing dharmic household discipline, it implies that right conduct (ācāra) supports merit (puṇya) and steadier post-death outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat it as a historical dharma passage about social regulation; the transferable takeaway is prioritizing responsibility, consent, and ethical discipline in family life rather than using it to justify harm or inequality.