Sutra 9

Devanagari script

गृहस्थस्य स्वधर्माजीवस्तुल्यैरसमानर्षिभिर्वैवाह्यमृतुगामित्वं देवपित्रतिथिपूजा भृत्येषु त्यागः शेषभोजनं च ॥ कZ_०१.३.०९ ॥

Transliteration

gṛhasthasya svadharmājīva-stulyair asamānaṛṣibhir vaivāhyaṃ ṛtugāmitvaṃ deva-pitṛ-atithi-pūjā bhṛtyeṣu tyāgaḥ śeṣa-bhojanaṃ ca

Translation

สำหรับคฤหัสถ์: แต่งงานกับคู่ครองที่เสมอกันในหน้าที่และการเลี้ยงชีพ (ไม่ใช่กับฤๅษี/นักบวชที่ไม่เสมอกัน); มีเพศสัมพันธ์เฉพาะในฤดูกาลอันเหมาะสม; บูชาเทพ บรรพชน และแขก; เอื้อเฟื้อแก่คนรับใช้; และกินเฉพาะอาหารที่เหลือหลังจากผู้อื่นได้รับการจัดเสิร์ฟแล้ว.

Word by Word

गृहस्थस्यof the householder

स्वधर्मone’s own prescribed duty

आजीवःlivelihood

तुल्यैःwith equals

असमानnot unequal; not inferior/superior (i.e., not in an unequal relation)

ऋषिभिःwith sages

वैवाह्यम्marital (conduct/obligation)

ऋतुगामित्वम्approaching (one’s wife) in the proper season

देवgods

पितृancestors

अतिथिguest

पूजाworship/honoring

भृत्येषुamong/with servants

त्यागःgiving/charitable distribution

शेषremaining

भोजनम्eating/meal

चand

Entities Mentioned

gṛhastha

Ṛ

ṛṣi

deva

pitṛ

atithi

bhṛtya

FAQs

What is the strategic objective (Artha) of this verse?

To stabilize the basic economic and moral unit of the state—the household—by prescribing disciplined conduct, regulated sexuality, and duties toward dependents and society, which collectively reduce disorder and improve welfare (yogakshema).

How does this apply to modern governance?

It parallels policies that strengthen household stability and social trust: responsible family formation, public health-oriented norms, protection of workers/dependents, and civic duties (hospitality/care for vulnerable), all of which support social cohesion and economic productivity.

What is the specific duty of the ruler/official mentioned?

No ruler or official is directly addressed; the implied administrative aim is to promote disciplined household norms as part of governance, since orderly private conduct underwrites public order, revenue capacity, and social stability.