Shloka 25
Varṇāśrama-ācāra, Aśauca (Sūtaka) Regulations, and Prāyaścitta with Funeral-Rite Notes
अदुष्टापतितं भार्या यौवने या परित्यजेत् / सप्तजन्म भवेत्स्त्रीत्वं वैधव्यं च पुनः पुनः
aduṣṭāpatitaṃ bhāryā yauvane yā parityajet / saptajanma bhavetstrītvaṃ vaidhavyaṃ ca punaḥ punaḥ
अदुष्टामपतितां भार्यां यौवने यः परित्यजेत्। स सप्तजन्म स्त्रीत्वं प्राप्नुयाद् वैधव्यं च पुनः पुनः।
Lord Viṣṇu (teaching Garuḍa)
Concept: Unjust abandonment of a virtuous wife yields karmic retribution: repeated female births and repeated widowhood across seven lives.
Vedantic Theme: Karma-phala as moral causality shaping embodiment (yoni) and life-situations; dharma-violation binds saṃsāra.
Application: Do not abandon a faithful spouse; resolve conflicts through dharmic counsel, responsibility, and protection of dependents.
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Type: household/social sphere
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.107 (gṛhastha transgressions and karmic results)
FAQs
This verse treats faithful marital responsibility as a core dharma: abandoning a blameless wife is framed as a grave ethical breach that yields repeated suffering through karmic rebirth.
It links a specific wrongful act—deserting a virtuous wife—to a defined karmic result: repeated rebirth and recurring widowhood, emphasizing moral causality rather than randomness.
Maintain responsibility and fairness in intimate commitments; if separation is unavoidable, act with integrity, protection, and due care rather than abandonment.