Shloka 39

धर्मनिन्दा–धर्मोपासनाफलम् तथा साध्वाचारलक्षणम्

Fruits of Disparaging vs. Observing Dharma; Marks of Good Conduct

Devanagari script

ग्राम्यधर्म न सेवेत स्वच्छन्देनार्थकोविद: । ऋतुकाले तु धर्मात्मा पत्नीमुपशयेत्‌ सदा

Transliteration

grāmyadharmaṁ na seveta svacchandenārthakovidaḥ | ṛtukāle tu dharmātmā patnīm upaśayeta sadā ||

Translation

ହିତ-ଅହିତର ବିବେକ ଥିବା ପୁରୁଷ ସ୍ୱେଚ୍ଛାରେ ଗ୍ରାମ୍ୟଧର୍ମ (କାମାଚାର) ସେବନ କରିବ ନାହିଁ। ଧର୍ମାତ୍ମା ହୋଇ ସେ ସଦା କେବଳ ଋତୁକାଳରେ ହିଁ ପତ୍ନୀଙ୍କ ସମୀପେ ଶୟନ କରୁ—ଏହି ହେଉ ତାହାର ସଂଯମ।

Word by Word

• ग्राम्यधर्मम्: worldly/sexual conduct (coitus as a worldly act)
• ग्राम्यधर्मम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्राम्यधर्म
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न

• सेवेत: should practice/indulge in
• Type: Verb
• Root: सेव्
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• स्वच्छन्देन: by (one's) own will; at will
• स्वच्छन्देन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वच्छन्द
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• अर्थकोविदः: one who knows what is beneficial/meaningful
• अर्थकोविदः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्थकोविद
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• ऋतुकाले: in the season (of fertility/menstrual period)
• ऋतुकाले: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतुकाल
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• तु: but/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु

• धर्मात्मा: righteous-minded person
• धर्मात्मा: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धर्मात्मन्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पत्नीम्: wife
• पत्नीम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी
• Form: Feminine, Accusative, Singular

• उपशयेत्: should lie with/approach for bed
• Type: Verb
• Root: उप-शी
• Form: Optative (Vidhi-lin), 3rd, Singular, Parasmaipada

• सदा: always
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सदा

Speaker

श्रीमहेश्वर उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Śrī-Maheśvara (Śiva)
• patnī (wife)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse teaches disciplined household sexuality: avoid pleasure-driven, self-willed indulgence, and approach one’s wife in accordance with dharma—traditionally, chiefly during her ṛtukāla (fertile period), emphasizing restraint and purposeful conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

Śrī Maheśvara is giving a normative instruction on gṛhastha-dharma (householder ethics), defining ‘grāmyadharma’ as worldly sexual indulgence and prescribing regulated conjugal conduct aligned with righteousness and prudence.