Shloka 2

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

समापितब्रह्मचर्यो लक्षण्यां स्त्रियमुद्वहेत् / अनन्यपूर्विकां कान्तामसपिण्डां यवीयसीम्

Transliteration

samāpitabrahmacaryo lakṣaṇyāṃ striyamudvahet / ananyapūrvikāṃ kāntāmasapiṇḍāṃ yavīyasīm

Translation

เมื่อสำเร็จพรหมจรรย์แล้ว พึงอภิเษกสตรีผู้มีลักษณะเป็นมงคล—ผู้ไม่เคยมีสามีมาก่อน งดงามน่ารัก มิใช่ญาติร่วมสาย (สปิณฑะ) และมีวัยอ่อนกว่า

Word by Word

• समापितब्रह्मचर्यः: one who has completed brahmacarya
• समापितब्रह्मचर्यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समापित + ब्रह्मचर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (समापितं ब्रह्मचर्यं येन)

• लक्षण्याम्: endowed with good marks/qualities
• लक्षण्याम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लक्षण्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (स्त्रियम्)

• स्त्रियम्: a woman
• स्त्रियम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• उद्वहेत्: should marry
• उद्वहेत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उद् + √वह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन

• अनन्यपूर्विकाम्: not previously married (having no prior husband)
• अनन्यपूर्विकाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अनन्य + पूर्विका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (अनन्या पूर्विका यस्याः सा)

• कान्ताम्: beloved/beautiful woman
• कान्ताम्: Karman (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कान्ता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• असपिण्डाम्: not of the same sapinda (not a close blood-relative)
• असपिण्डाम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + सपिण्डा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; नञ्-समासभाव (negative prefix a-), विशेषणम् (कान्ताम्)

• यवीयसीम्: younger
• यवीयसीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; तुलनात्मक (comparative: younger)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: After brahmacarya, one should marry a woman of good character and auspicious marks: previously unmarried, agreeable, non-sapinda, and younger.

Vedantic Theme: Āśrama-dharma as a structured path for purification and social harmony; regulated desire (kāma under dharma).

Application: Approach partnership with ethical criteria: consent, compatibility, integrity, and avoidance of harmful kinship entanglements; treat marriage as responsibility, not mere pleasure.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: household/ritual setting (vivāha-saṃskāra implied)

Cross References

Related Themes: Ācāra-kāṇḍa: vivāha-vidhi and gṛhastha qualifications (general parallel)

FAQs

What is the importance of completing brahmacarya before marriage in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames marriage as a dharmic transition: only after finishing brahmacarya should one enter gṛhastha life, implying discipline and readiness as prerequisites for household duties.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it supports the dharmic order of life-stages (āśramas). Right conduct in gṛhastha—beginning with a proper marriage—forms the ethical foundation that later affects karma and spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Treat marriage as a responsible life-stage: seek compatibility and good character, avoid prohibited close-kin unions (sapinda), and enter marriage after personal discipline and education are complete.