Shloka 170

Dāna as Prāyaścitta; Deathbed Gifts; Antyeṣṭi Procedures; Nārāyaṇa-bali for Untimely Deaths

Devanagari script

ऊढामेव स्वकां भार्यामुद्वहेद्विधिवत्पुमान् / वर्षे पञ्चदशे पक्षिन् द्वादशे वा गते सति

Transliteration

ūḍhāmeva svakāṃ bhāryāmudvahedvidhivatpumān / varṣe pañcadaśe pakṣin dvādaśe vā gate sati

Translation

Um homem deve casar-se apenas com uma donzela de sua própria comunidade, de acordo com os ritos prescritos, Ó Pássaro (Garuda), quando tiver atingido a idade de quinze anos — ou, alternativamente, quando tiver completado doze anos.

Word by Word

• ऊढाम्: (already) married
• ऊढाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वह् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त (past passive participle) 'ऊढा' = 'married', स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• एव: only/indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक

• स्वकाम्: one's own
• स्वकाम्: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (Object-qualifier/कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• भार्याम्: wife
• भार्याम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उद्वहेत्: should marry/take in marriage
• उद्वहेत्: Kriyā (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद्-√वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• विधिवत्: according to proper rites
• विधिवत्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विधिवत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb: according to rule)

• पुमान्: the man
• पुमान्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुमांस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• वर्षे: in the year (at age)
• वर्षे: Adhikaraṇa (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• पञ्चदशे: fifteenth
• पञ्चदशे: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (Time-qualifier/अधिकरणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्चदश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः (पञ्च च दश च)

• पक्षिन्: O bird (address)
• पक्षिन्: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पक्षिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• द्वादशे: twelfth
• द्वादशे: Adhikaraṇa-viśeṣaṇa (Time-qualifier/अधिकरणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्वादश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Alternative/विकल्प)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (disjunctive particle)

• गते: when (it is) past
• गते: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute/सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गम् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-कृदन्त, नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; 'गते' = 'when (it has) passed' (locative absolute)

• सति: when it is so/being the case
• सति: Adhikaraṇa (Locative absolute/सप्तमी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अस् (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-कृदन्त (present participle) 'सत्', नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; सप्तमी-सम्बन्ध (locative absolute support)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Marriage should be performed according to vidhi, with an appropriate partner within one’s community, at a prescribed age.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as regulator of kāma and artha; saṃskāra-guided life supports orderly pursuit of puruṣārthas.

Application: Follow community-appropriate marriage rites; ensure consent and readiness; interpret age prescriptions in light of contemporary law and health while preserving the principle of dharmic propriety.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: household/social sphere

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: gṛhastha-dharma and saṃskāra passages on vivāha; Garuda Purana: varṇa/jāti propriety discussions where present

Characters & Entities

• Garuda (Pakshin/Vinata-putra)

FAQs

What is the importance of marrying according to vidhi (prescribed rites) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marriage as a dharmic saṃskāra that must be performed “vidhivat,” emphasizing social and ritual order as part of righteous household life.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader teachings on karma and the afterlife?

In the Preta Kanda, proper observance of dharma (including saṃskāras like marriage) is presented as a foundation for merit (puṇya) and moral conduct, which shapes karmic outcomes discussed elsewhere in the text.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat marriage as a responsible ethical commitment: follow lawful procedures, uphold mutual duties, and prioritize conduct aligned with dharma rather than impulse.