Shloka 24
An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya
स्त्रीभिर्भर्तुर्वचः कार्यमेष धर्मः परः स्त्रियाः / षोडशर्तुनिशाः स्त्रीणां तासु युग्मासु संविशेत्
strībhirbharturvacaḥ kāryameṣa dharmaḥ paraḥ striyāḥ / ṣoḍaśartuniśāḥ strīṇāṃ tāsu yugmāsu saṃviśet
عورتوں کے لیے شوہر کے حکم کی تعمیل کرنا ہی فرض ہے—یہی عورتوں کا اعلیٰ ترین دھرم کہا گیا ہے۔ عورت کی سولہ رِتو راتیں ہوتی ہیں؛ ان میں جفت راتوں میں ملاپ کرنا چاہیے۔
Lord Vishnu (in dialogue instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Concept: Strī-dharma framed as obedience to husband; conception/union regulated by the sixteen fertile nights, favoring even nights.
Vedantic Theme: Governance of kāma by dharma to sustain social and progeny order (praja, ṛta).
Application: Approach intimacy with mutual responsibility and timing awareness; interpret ‘duty’ through ethical partnership and consent within one’s cultural-legal framework.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shringara
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95 (sexual ethics, rtu, progeny-related injunctions)
FAQs
This verse highlights ritu-kala as a dharmic framework for conjugal life, emphasizing that union is traditionally recommended during the designated fertile nights, particularly the even-numbered nights.
Indirectly: by regulating household conduct through dharma, the text frames ethical living and disciplined desires as supports for good karma, which in turn influences one’s post-death trajectory described elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.
Treat marital life as a responsibility guided by mutual duty and self-restraint; if planning family life, align intimacy with health, consent, and stability while understanding the verse as a traditional dharma guideline.