Shloka 91

Dharma–Adharma Marks; Daśāha, Piṇḍa Formation, Śrāddha Calendar, Śayyā-dāna, and Sapiṇḍīkaraṇa Rules

Devanagari script

उपकाराय सा भर्तुर्जीवन्ती न मृता तथा / उद्धरेज्जीवमाना सा सती सत्यवती प्रियम्

Transliteration

upakārāya sā bharturjīvantī na mṛtā tathā / uddharejjīvamānā sā satī satyavatī priyam

Translation

Demi manfaat suami, dia hendaklah terus hidup, bukan mati mengikutnya. Selagi bernyawa, isteri yang setia dan benar itu patut mengangkat martabat serta melindungi kekasihnya.

Word by Word

• upakārāya: for the benefit
• upakārāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: upakāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Caturthī (4th/चतुर्थी), Ekavacana; sampradāna/purpose dative

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• bhartuḥ: of (her) husband
• bhartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhartṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṃliṅga, Ṣaṣṭhī, Ekavacana; genitive relation

• jīvantī: living
• jīvantī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jīv (जीव् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kāla-kṛdanta (śatṛ), Strīliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sā

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; niṣedha (negation particle)

• mṛtā: dead
• mṛtā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √mṛ (मृ धातु)
• Form: Kta (past passive participle), Strīliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sā (i.e., 'not dead')

• tathā: thus
• tathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb = 'thus/likewise'

• uddharet: should lift/save
• uddharet: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√hṛ (हृ धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (Optative), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Ekavacana; parasmaipada

• jīvamānā: while living
• jīvamānā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √jīv (जीव् धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kāla-kṛdanta (śānac), Strīliṅga Prathamā Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sā

• sā: she
• sā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• satī: virtuous (wife)
• satī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satī (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त from √as अस्, present participle used as noun)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa = 'virtuous/chaste woman'

• satyavatī: truthful
• satyavatī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: satyavatī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; viśeṣaṇa of sā

• priyam: the beloved (husband)/dear one
• priyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: priya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुंसakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; karma (object)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: For the husband’s benefit, the wife should remain alive; as a satī (faithful) and satyavatī (truthful), she should uplift her beloved through living action.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as compassionate agency; rejection of self-destruction in favor of purposeful duty and inner steadiness.

Application: In bereavement, choose life, fulfill responsibilities, perform śrāddha/dāna, and maintain truthful, stabilizing conduct for family and the departed’s remembrance.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: household/social sphere (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.34.90 (wife’s rites for husband); Garuda Purana śrāddha sections emphasizing the living’s role in preta-upakāra

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Bhartṛ (husband)

FAQs

What is the importance of a wife remaining alive for her husband's welfare in the Garuda Purana?

This verse emphasizes dharmic support: a virtuous wife benefits her husband through living conduct—truthfulness, care, and protective action—rather than self-destruction.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader afterlife narrative?

In the Preta Kanda’s discussion of death and post-death consequences, the text also instructs the living on righteous behavior; here it frames virtue and truth as practical supports that uplift family destiny.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Choose life-affirming dharma: act with truthfulness, steadiness, and care for loved ones—supporting family wellbeing through ethical conduct rather than harmful extremes.