Shloka 6

Devanagari script

कार्ये च मन्त्री सत्स्त्री स्यात्सती (खी) स्यात्करणेषु च / स्त्रेहेषु भार्या माता स्याद्वेश्या च शयने शुभा

Transliteration

kārye ca mantrī satstrī syātsatī (khī) syātkaraṇeṣu ca / streheṣu bhāryā mātā syādveśyā ca śayane śubhā

Translation

Dalam urusan kerja, isteri hendaklah seperti penasihat yang bijaksana; dalam melaksanakan tugas, hendaklah menjadi pembantu yang setia dan cekap. Dalam kasih sayang, hendaklah seperti seorang ibu; dan di kamar, hendaklah menjadi kekasih yang membawa keberkatan.

Word by Word

• कार्ये: in work/affairs
• कार्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कार्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

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

• मन्त्री: a counselor/minister
• मन्त्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्रिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• सत्स्त्री: a good woman
• सत्स्त्री: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत् (प्रातिपदिक) + स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; कर्मधारय (सती स्त्री)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd Person, Singular

• सती: a faithful/virtuous woman
• सती: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd Person, Singular

• करणेषु: in activities/means
• करणेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: करण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Plural

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

• स्त्रेहेषु: in affections/love
• स्त्रेहेषु: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्रेह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Locative (7th), Plural

• भार्या: wife
• भार्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• माता: mother
• माता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — Optative, 3rd Person, Singular

• वेश्या: courtesan
• वेश्या: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular

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

• शयने: in bed
• शयने: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शयन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन — Neuter, Locative (7th), Singular

• शुभा: pleasant/auspicious
• शुभा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता), एकवचन — Feminine, Nominative (1st), Singular; विशेषण (वेश्या)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (addressing Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Idealized spousal roles: wife as adviser in work, capable assistant in action, motherly in affection, and auspicious beloved in bed—integrating artha, dharma, kāma.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as harmonization of puruṣārthas; sattvic relational conduct reducing rajas/tamas in household life.

Application: Cultivate multi-dimensional partnership: shared decision-making, reliable execution, emotional caregiving, and consensual intimacy; avoid reducing spouse to a single role.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shringara

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household (gṛha)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.64 (stri-lakṣaṇa and gṛhastha ideals cluster)

FAQs

What is the importance of gṛhastha-dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights household ethics by describing complementary qualities that sustain harmony—counsel in duties, devotion in action, nurturing affection, and intimate concord.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing righteous household conduct (ācāra), it supports dharma and merit (puṇya), which the Garuda Purana links to favorable outcomes after death.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat marriage as a partnership: share counsel in decisions, cooperate in responsibilities, cultivate nurturing care, and maintain respectful intimacy—without reducing either partner to a single role.