Shloka 19

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

Devanagari script

कौशिको ब्राह्मणः कुष्ठी प्रतिष्ठाने ऽभवत्पुरा / तं तथा व्याधितं भार्या पतिं देवमिवार्चयत्

Transliteration

kauśiko brāhmaṇaḥ kuṣṭhī pratiṣṭhāne 'bhavatpurā / taṃ tathā vyādhitaṃ bhāryā patiṃ devamivārcayat

Translation

กาลก่อน ณ เมืองประติษฐาน มีพราหมณ์นามว่าเกาศิกะผู้ทุกข์ทรมานด้วยโรคเรื้อน แม้เขาจะเจ็บป่วยเช่นนั้น ภรรยาก็ยังบูชาและปรนนิบัติสามีดุจบูชาเทพเจ้า

Word by Word

• कौशिकः: Kauśika (name)
• कौशिकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौशिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणः: a Brahmin
• ब्राह्मणः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कौशिकस्य विशेषण-रूपेण

• कुष्ठी: leprous
• कुष्ठी: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुष्ठिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• प्रतिष्ठाने: in Pratiṣṭhāna (place)
• प्रतिष्ठाने: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रतिष्ठान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• अभवत्: was/became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुरा: formerly/once
• पुरा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तथा: thus/in that manner
• तथा: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• व्याधितम्: afflicted/ill
• व्याधितम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: व्याधित (कृदन्त; व्याध्/व्याधि-सम्बन्ध)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तम् इति विशेषणम्

• भार्या: (his) wife
• भार्या: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भार्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पतिम्: husband
• पतिम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• देवम्: a god
• देवम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; उपमान-रूपेण (इव सह)

• इव: like/as if
• इव: Sambandha/Comparator (उपमा-सूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• अर्चयत्: worshipped/honoured
• अर्चयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्च् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pati-sevā as a dharmic vow: honoring the husband as a deva even amid suffering and disease.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as a purifier of antaḥkaraṇa; selfless service (niṣkāma-sevā) preparing the mind for higher knowledge/bhakti.

Application: Caregiving with dignity; uphold commitments without cruelty; transform household duties into disciplined, compassionate service.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: karuna

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana, Pretakalpa narratives on pativratā power and dharma (contextual cluster around 1.142)

Characters & Entities

• Kauśika
• Brāhmaṇa
• Wife (bhāryā)
• Pratiṣṭhāna

FAQs

What is the importance of pativratā (devotion to the husband) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights that steadfast service and reverence toward one’s spouse—seeing the husband as worthy of worship—are presented as powerful expressions of gṛhastha-dharma, even amid illness and hardship.

How does this verse explain karma and suffering in the Garuda Purana narrative?

The verse introduces a brāhmaṇa suffering from disease, setting a karmic context where virtue is shown not by external comfort but by righteous conduct and faithful service despite adverse conditions.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Practice dignity, care, and duty within family life—especially compassionate service to an ill spouse—treating caregiving as a sacred responsibility rather than merely an obligation.