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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ekadasha Skandha, Shloka 39

Varṇāśrama-dharma as a Path to Bhakti

Yuga-dharma Origins, Universal Virtues, Brahmacarya and Gṛhastha Duties

गृहार्थी सद‍ृशीं भार्यामुद्वहेदजुगुप्सिताम् । यवीयसीं तु वयसा यां सवर्णामनुक्रमात् ॥ ३९ ॥

gṛhārthī sadṛśīṁ bhāryām udvahed ajugupsitām yavīyasīṁ tu vayasā yāṁ sa-varṇām anu kramāt

جو شخص گھریلو زندگی قائم کرنا چاہے وہ اپنی ہی ذات/ورن کی، بے عیب اور عمر میں کم تر بیوی سے نکاح کرے۔ اگر کئی بیویاں اختیار کرنی ہوں تو پہلے نکاح کے بعد ترتیب سے کرے، اور ہر بیوی بتدریج کم تر ورن کی ہو۔

gṛha-arthīdesiring household life
gṛha-arthī:
Karta (कर्ता/agent)
TypeAdjective
Rootgṛha (प्रातिपदिक) + arthin (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (उपपद-तत्पुरुष: ‘gṛham arthayate’/‘gṛhasya arthī’); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular
sadṛśīmsuitable/compatible
sadṛśīm:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootsadṛśī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; agrees with bhāryām
bhāryāma wife
bhāryām:
Karma (कर्म/object)
TypeNoun
Rootbhāryā (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular
udvahetshould marry/take (in marriage)
udvahet:
Kriyā (क्रिया/predicate)
TypeVerb
Rootud√vah (धातु)
FormVidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्/optative), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada
ajugupsitāmnot reprehensible; not to be shunned
ajugupsitām:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Roota- (नञ्) + jugupsita (कृदन्त, √gup/√gups)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular; negative prefix (नञ्) + past passive participle sense ‘not to be shunned’
yavīyasīmyounger
yavīyasīm:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootyavīyasī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative, Singular; comparative (यवीयसि) agreeing with bhāryām
tubut/indeed
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAvyaya; adversative/emphatic particle (तु)
vayasāby age (in age)
vayasā:
Karana (करण/instrument; measure)
TypeNoun
Rootvayas (प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular
yāmwhom
yām:
Karma (कर्म/object; relative)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; relative pronoun referring to bhāryām
sa-varṇāmof the same varṇa (social class)
sa-varṇām:
Karma (कर्म/object-qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootsa (उपसर्ग/सह) + varṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormTatpuruṣa (कर्मधारय/उपपद: ‘sama-varṇā’); Feminine, Accusative, Singular; agrees with bhāryām
anuaccording to; in order
anu:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootanu (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
FormAvyaya; preverb/adverb ‘in accordance with, successively’ (अनु)
kramātin due sequence
kramāt:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण/manner)
TypeNoun
Rootkrama (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine, Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular; used adverbially ‘in due order’

As stated in the Vedic literature,

K
Krishna
U
Uddhava

FAQs

In 11.17.39, Lord Krishna says a man intending household life should marry a compatible, respectable (not objectionable) wife, younger in age, and traditionally within the same varṇa according to prescribed order.

These instructions occur in Krishna’s teachings to Uddhava on varnashrama-dharma, showing how regulated social and family life can support purity, responsibility, and spiritual progress.

Apply the principle of compatibility and character: choose a spouse with good conduct and shared values, and approach marriage as a dharmic responsibility that supports steady spiritual practice.