Shloka 16

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

धर्मसंरक्षणं चक्रे ह्यश्वमेधादिकान्क्रतून् / सा महीपतिना रेमे रामेणैव यथासुखम्

Transliteration

dharmasaṃrakṣaṇaṃ cakre hyaśvamedhādikānkratūn / sā mahīpatinā reme rāmeṇaiva yathāsukham

Translation

ఆయన ధర్మాన్ని సంరక్షించి అశ్వమేధాది క్రతువులను నిర్వహించాడు; ఆమె (సీత) మహీపతి రామునితో యథాసుఖంగా ఆనందంగా నివసించింది।

Word by Word

• धर्म-संरक्षणम्: protection of dharma
• धर्म-संरक्षणम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संरक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (धर्मस्य संरक्षणम्)

• चक्रे: he did/performed
• चक्रे: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; indeed)

• अश्वमेध-आदिकान्: Aśvamedha and other
• अश्वमेध-आदिकान्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्वमेध (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (अश्वमेधः आदिः येषां ते) — क्रतून् इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• क्रतून्: sacrifices/rites
• क्रतून्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मही-पतिना: with the lord of the earth (king)
• मही-पतिना: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मही (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (महेः पतिः)

• रेमे: she enjoyed/dwelt happily
• रेमे: Kriya (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• रामेण: with Rāma
• रामेण: Sahartha (Accompaniment/सहार्थ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/अवधारण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (particle of emphasis/only)

• यथा-सुखम्: as (was) pleasant; comfortably
• यथा-सुखम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय) + सुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समासः; क्रियाविशेषण (adverbial)

Speaker

Narrator (Purāṇic recitation context; not a direct Vishnu–Garuda dialogue in this verse)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma is safeguarded through righteous rule and sanctioned yajñas; household harmony is portrayed as the fruit of dharmic life.

Vedantic Theme: Karma performed as duty (niyata-karma) sustaining social-cosmic order; prosperity as a byproduct, not the aim.

Application: Perform one’s role with integrity; support community institutions; let personal happiness arise from ethical living rather than exploitation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: vira

Geographic Context

Type: capital and yajña-śālā

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142.15 (rājya and protection); Garuda Purana 1.142.18 (pativratā-mahātmya context)

Characters & Entities

• Rama
• Ashvamedha

FAQs

What is the importance of protecting dharma in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents dharma-protection as a king’s primary duty, supported by righteous governance and sanctioned Vedic rites.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s post-death journey; it highlights rāja-dharma and merit-building acts (dharma and sacrifices) that traditionally support auspicious outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold ethical duty in one’s role (family, work, community) and support dharmic practices with sincerity rather than mere display.