Shloka 5

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

वरयेत्कुलजां प्राज्ञो विरूपामपि कन्यकाम् / सुरूपां सुनितम्बाञ्च नाकुलीनां कदाचन

Transliteration

varayetkulajāṃ prājño virūpāmapi kanyakām / surūpāṃ sunitambāñca nākulīnāṃ kadācana

Translation

O homem sábio deve escolher uma donzela nascida de boa linhagem, ainda que não seja bela; mas jamais, em tempo algum, deve escolher uma mulher sem nobre ascendência, mesmo que seja formosa e bem-feita.

Word by Word

• वरयेत्: should choose (as bride)
• वरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कुलजाम्: born in a good family
• कुलजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + जा (प्रातिपदिक; √जन्-जनने)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘कुलात् जाता’ इति (born of a good family)

• प्राज्ञः: a wise man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• विरूपाम्: ugly
• विरूपाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘even/also’

• कन्यकाम्: a maiden/girl
• कन्यकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• सुरूपाम्: beautiful
• सुरूपाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• सुनितम्बाम्: with fine hips
• सुनितम्बाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + नितम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘सु-नितम्बा’ (having fine hips)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अकुलीनाम्: not well-born
• अकुलीनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘कुलीन-रहित’ (not of good family)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time), निषेधसह ‘ever/at any time’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kula (lineage/character) is a safer criterion than external beauty in choosing a spouse.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination between appearance and enduring qualities); guṇa-karma over rūpa.

Application: Prioritize character, family stability, and values alignment over physical attraction when forming long-term bonds.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.6-9 (series of nīti-style maxims on association, value, and caution)

FAQs

What is the importance of kula (good family/lineage) in Garuda Purana marriage guidance?

This verse prioritizes kula as a dharmic safeguard for household life, advising that noble family background outweighs mere physical attractiveness when choosing a bride.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharmic household choices, it supports righteous living (dharma) that shapes karma—central to the Purana’s broader teaching on post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate long-term values—character, stability, and ethical culture—over appearance alone when making life-partner decisions.