Shloka 7

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

ब्राह्मो विवाह आहूय दीयते शक्त्यलङ्कृता / तज्जः पुनात्युभयतः पुरुषोनेकविंशतिम्

Transliteration

brāhmo vivāha āhūya dīyate śaktyalaṅkṛtā / tajjaḥ punātyubhayataḥ puruṣonekaviṃśatim

Translation

ในพิธีสมรสแบบพราหมะ เชิญเจ้าบ่าวด้วยความเคารพ แล้วมอบกุลธิดาที่ประดับตามกำลังทรัพย์ บุตรที่เกิดจากการสมรสนั้นย่อมชำระให้บริสุทธิ์แก่คนทั้งสองฝ่ายจำนวนยี่สิบเอ็ดคน

Word by Word

• ब्राह्मः: Brahma-type (of marriage)
• ब्राह्मः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्राह्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying vivāhaḥ)

• विवाहः: marriage
• विवाहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विवाह (प्रातिपदिक; √वह् (धातु) से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• आहूय: having invited
• आहूय: Kriya-visheshana (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-हूय (कृदन्त; √ह्वे/हू (धातु) + ल्यप्)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया (having invited)

• दीयते: is given
• दीयते: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दा (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive)

• शक्त्या: with ability; according to means
• शक्त्या: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), एकवचन; ‘यथाशक्ति’ अर्थे

• अलङ्कृता: adorned
• अलङ्कृता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलङ्कृत (कृदन्त; √कृ (धातु) + क्त, उपसर्ग अलम्)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण (bride implied)

• तत्: of that
• तत्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासपूर्वपद (of that)

• जः: born from (it)
• जः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज (प्रातिपदिक; √जन् (धातु) से)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘born from’ अर्थे

• पुनाति: purifies
• पुनाति: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पू (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उभयतः: from both sides
• उभयतः: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उभयतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (adverb: ‘from both sides’)

• पुरुषः: man; person
• पुरुषः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एक: one
• एक: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समासपूर्वपद; संख्यावाचक

• विंशतिम्: twenty
• विंशतिम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विंशति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; संख्यावाचक (acc. sg.)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Brāhma vivāha: bride is given after inviting the groom; the son born thereof purifies twenty-one persons on both sides.

Vedantic Theme: Saṃskāra and puṇya as supports for inner purification; family-line merit framed as collective uplift through dharmic rites.

Application: Perform life-cycle rites with sincerity and proportional simplicity (‘śakty-alaṅkṛta’); cultivate responsibility for family welfare and ethical continuity.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (vivāha types and fruits)

Characters & Entities

• Brahma (as the Brāhma form)
• Bride
• Groom
• Ancestors (puruṣas)

FAQs

What is the importance of Brāhma vivāha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Brāhma vivāha as a highly meritorious dharmic marriage, emphasizing respectful invitation of the groom and gifting the bride adorned according to one’s means.

How does this verse explain spiritual upliftment across a family line?

It states that a son born from a Brāhma marriage purifies ‘twenty-one persons’ on both maternal and paternal sides, indicating broad ancestral benefit through righteous samskāra.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Conduct marriage with dignity, consent, and dharmic intent—prioritizing respectful rites and avoiding show or coercion—so family life supports ethical living and spiritual merit.