Shloka 30
The Account of Women
Householder Ethics, Fault, Merit, and Govinda-Nāma as Purification
काचित्पातयते नारी काचिदुद्धरते कुलम् । तस्मात्सर्वप्रयत्नेन कुलजामुद्वहेद्बुधः
kācitpātayate nārī kāciduddharate kulam | tasmātsarvaprayatnena kulajāmudvahedbudhaḥ
ചില സ്ത്രീകൾ കുലത്തെ നശിപ്പിക്കുന്നു, എന്നാൽ ചിലർ കുലത്തെ ഉദ്ധരിക്കുന്നു. അതിനാൽ ബുദ്ധിമാന്മാർ സൽകുലത്തിൽ ജനിച്ച സ്ത്രീയെ വിവാഹം കഴിക്കണം.
Unspecified narrator (contextual didactic statement within Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa); commonly transmitted within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework
Concept: Marriage choices shape the moral and social trajectory of a lineage; discernment is a dharmic duty.
Application: Choose partnerships with attention to character, values, and family culture; prioritize virtue and stability over impulse.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A calm domestic threshold scene: a wise elder gestures toward two symbolic paths—one flourishing with lamps, grain, and sacred threads, the other withered and shadowed—showing how a spouse can uplift or ruin a household. In the background, a wedding pavilion stands ready, emphasizing discernment before commitment.","primary_figures":["A wise counselor (buddha)","Prospective bride and groom (archetypal)","Household deities as subtle icons (Viṣṇu/Lakṣmī presence via symbols)"],"setting":"Village courtyard with a maṇḍapa, kalasha pots, mango leaves, and a family shrine; two contrasting symbolic vignettes at the sides.","lighting_mood":"golden dawn","color_palette":["saffron","warm gold","leaf green","ivory","vermillion"],"tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style: wedding-maṇḍapa tableau with gold-leaf arches, Lakṣmī-Nārāyaṇa icons in the shrine, richly patterned textiles; the wise elder centered with a teaching gesture, gem-studded ornaments, deep red and green drapery, auspicious motifs (kalasha, conch, lotus).","pahari_prompt":"Pahari miniature style: lyrical courtyard scene with delicate faces and soft gradients; the elder instructs the couple near a small shrine, flowering trees and distant hills; subtle symbolism—one side blooming, the other sparse—rendered with refined brushwork.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: symmetrical maṇḍapa composition, bold outlines, flat pigments; auspicious lamps and kalasha, stylized eyes; Viṣṇu’s presence suggested through conch-disc emblems in the shrine, strong reds/yellows/greens.","pichwai_prompt":"Pichwai cloth painting style: domestic dharma pichwai with ornate floral borders and lotus motifs; central maṇḍapa, side panels showing ‘kula uplift’ with cows, lamps, and grain; deep indigo background with gold detailing, auspicious Vaishnava symbols."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"narrative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"moderate-narrative","voice_tone":"reverent-soft","sound_elements":["temple bells","soft veena drone","courtyard birds","gentle hand-claps (tāla)"]}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kācitpātayate = kācit + pātayate; kāciduddharate = kācit + uddharate; tasmātsarvaprayatnena = tasmāt + sarva-prayatnena; kulajāmudvahet = kula-jām + udvahet; udvahedbudhaḥ = udvahet + budhaḥ.
FAQs
It advises that marriage has major consequences for a family’s welfare, so a prudent person should choose a spouse of good character and stable family background (kula) with great care.
No. It explicitly distinguishes: some women can contribute to a family’s decline, while others can uplift and protect a lineage—highlighting individual conduct rather than a single uniform claim.
As part of household (gṛhastha) ethics, it stresses responsibility, discernment, and the long-term social-spiritual impact of one’s choices—especially marriage—on family continuity and reputation.