Shloka 5

Nīti-Upadeśa: Discernment, Proper Use of Resources, and Social Strategy

Devanagari script

वरयेत्कुलजां प्राज्ञो विरूपामपि कन्यकाम् / सुरूपां सुनितम्बाञ्च नाकुलीनां कदाचन

Transliteration

varayetkulajāṃ prājño virūpāmapi kanyakām / surūpāṃ sunitambāñca nākulīnāṃ kadācana

Translation

دانشمند مرد کو چاہیے کہ نیک خاندان میں پیدا ہوئی لڑکی کو، اگرچہ وہ خوبصورت نہ بھی ہو، اختیار کرے؛ مگر خوبصورت اور خوش اندام ہو تب بھی بے نسب عورت کو کبھی نہ چنے۔

Word by Word

• वरयेत्: should choose (as bride)
• वरयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person), एकवचनम् (singular)

• कुलजाम्: born in a good family
• कुलजाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कुल + जा (प्रातिपदिक; √जन्-जनने)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘कुलात् जाता’ इति (born of a good family)

• प्राज्ञः: a wise man
• प्राज्ञः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative/1st), एकवचनम्

• विरूपाम्: ugly
• विरूपाम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• अपि: even/also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि-अर्थे ‘even/also’

• कन्यकाम्: a maiden/girl
• कन्यकाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• सुरूपाम्: beautiful
• सुरूपाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुरूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्

• सुनितम्बाम्: with fine hips
• सुनितम्बाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सु + नितम्ब (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘सु-नितम्बा’ (having fine hips)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध (negation particle)

• अकुलीनाम्: not well-born
• अकुलीनाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + कुलीन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचनम्; ‘कुलीन-रहित’ (not of good family)

• कदाचन: ever/at any time
• कदाचन: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक अव्यय (adverb of time), निषेधसह ‘ever/at any time’

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Kula (lineage/character) is a safer criterion than external beauty in choosing a spouse.

Vedantic Theme: Viveka (discrimination between appearance and enduring qualities); guṇa-karma over rūpa.

Application: Prioritize character, family stability, and values alignment over physical attraction when forming long-term bonds.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.110.6-9 (series of nīti-style maxims on association, value, and caution)

FAQs

What is the importance of kula (good family/lineage) in Garuda Purana marriage guidance?

This verse prioritizes kula as a dharmic safeguard for household life, advising that noble family background outweighs mere physical attractiveness when choosing a bride.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana context?

Indirectly: by emphasizing dharmic household choices, it supports righteous living (dharma) that shapes karma—central to the Purana’s broader teaching on post-death consequences.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Evaluate long-term values—character, stability, and ethical culture—over appearance alone when making life-partner decisions.