Shloka 13

Yājñavalkya on the Sources of Dharma and the Saṁskāras of the Twice-Born

Devanagari script

एवमेनः शमं याति बीजगर्भसमुद्भवम् / तूष्ण ईमेताः क्रियाः स्त्रीणां विवाहश्च समन्त्रकः

Transliteration

evamenaḥ śamaṃ yāti bījagarbhasamudbhavam / tūṣṇa īmetāḥ kriyāḥ strīṇāṃ vivāhaśca samantrakaḥ

Translation

एवं बीजगर्भसमुद्भवमेनः शमं याति। स्त्रीणामेताः क्रियास्तूष्णीं कर्तव्याः, विवाहश्च समन्त्रकः विधिवत्।

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus, in this manner
• एवम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक (adverb of manner)

• एनः: sin, demerit
• एनः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd case); एकवचन

• शमम्: pacification, cessation
• शमम्: Karma (Object/goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case); एकवचन

• याति: goes, attains
• याति: Kriyā (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• बीजगर्भसमुद्भवम्: arising from seed and womb (i.e., from conception)
• बीजगर्भसमुद्भवम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बीज (प्रातिपदिक) + गर्भ (प्रातिपदिक) + समुद्भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया (2nd case); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying एनः)

• तूष्णम्: silently
• तूष्णम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Adverbial modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूष्णम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• ईम्: indeed, just
• ईम्: Sambandha (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ईम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (particle; emphatic/indeclinable)

• एताः: these
• एताः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); बहुवचन; सर्वनाम; विशेषण (qualifying क्रियाः)

• क्रियाः: rites, actions
• क्रियाः: Karta (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रिया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); बहुवचन

• स्त्रीणाम्: of women
• स्त्रीणाम्: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th case); बहुवचन

• विवाहः: marriage
• विवाहः: Karta (Subject; coordinated)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Coordinator)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• समन्त्रकः: with mantras, accompanied by mantras
• समन्त्रकः: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + मन्त्रक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st case); एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying विवाहः)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Sin connected with seed-and-womb transgression is pacified by properly performed women’s rites; marriage must be mantra-sanctioned.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; saṃskāra as a means to sattva-śuddhi enabling higher pursuit (moksha-adhikāra).

Application: Treat reproductive/sexual ethics as dharma-bound; perform prescribed saṃskāras with restraint (mauna where enjoined) and ensure vivaha is conducted with correct mantras and qualified officiation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: griha (household) / vivaha-mandapa (implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana (Dharma/Acara sections): discussions of saṃskāra, śauca, and prayāścitta in adjacent adhyāyas (contextual).

Characters & Entities

• Garuda
• Women (strī)
• Mantras

FAQs

What is the importance of bīja-garbha related sin in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats offenses connected to seed and womb as a specific category of demerit and states that proper prescribed observances can pacify (śama) that sin.

How does this verse explain the role of ritual in dharma?

It emphasizes that correct performance of women’s rites and a mantra-sanctioned marriage are dharmic acts that restore order and reduce karmic fault.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach marriage and family-related rites with sincerity, ethical conduct, and respect for tradition—prioritizing integrity and properly guided ceremonies over negligence.