Shloka 20

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

निर्भर्त्सितापि भर्तारं तममन्यत दैवतम् / भर्त्रोक्ता सानयद्वेश्यां शुल्कमादाय चाधिकम्

Transliteration

nirbhartsitāpi bhartāraṃ tamamanyata daivatam / bhartroktā sānayadveśyāṃ śulkamādāya cādhikam

Translation

Dẫu bị chồng mắng nhiếc, nàng vẫn xem chồng là vị thần của mình. Theo lời chồng dặn, nàng còn dẫn chồng đến nhà kỹ nữ, nhận tiền công—thậm chí còn lấy nhiều hơn nữa.

Word by Word

• निर्भर्त्सिता: though scolded/abused
• निर्भर्त्सिता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्भर्त्सित (कृदन्त; निर्भर्त्स् धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; भर्त्सिता/तिरस्कृता

• अपि: even/though
• अपि: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण/Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपवादसूचक-अव्यय (concessive particle: even/though)

• भर्तारम्: (her) husband
• भर्तारम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भर्तृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अमन्यत: considered/thought (as)
• अमन्यत: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद

• दैवतम्: a deity/divinity
• दैवतम्: Karma (कर्म/Object complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैवत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; अमन्यत इत्यस्य पूरक (object-complement)

• भर्त्रोक्ता: instructed/ordered by (her) husband
• भर्त्रोक्ता: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भर्तृ + उक्त (कृदन्त; वच् धातु)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास (भर्तुः उक्ता), भूतकृदन्त, स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भार्याया विशेषणम्

• सा: she
• सा: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• आनयत्: brought/led
• आनयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-पूर्वक (आ + नी)

• वेश्याम्: a courtesan/prostitute
• वेश्याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• शुल्कम्: fee/payment
• शुल्कम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शुल्क (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Anterior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘having taken’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय/Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अधिकम्: extra/more
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; शुल्कम् इति विशेषणम्

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda, Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma-saṅkaṭa: fidelity and obedience contrasted with the moral hazard of enabling adharma; the narrative spotlights the extraordinary (and problematic) extremity of pativratā idealization.

Vedantic Theme: Discernment (viveka) within duty; dharma without wisdom can become bondage; intention and consequence both matter.

Application: Maintain loyalty without enabling harm; set ethical boundaries; seek counsel when duty conflicts with conscience.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: karuna

Geographic Context

Type: city

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142 (continuing episode leading to Māṇḍavya’s curse and the wife’s vow-power)

FAQs

What is the importance of marital dharma (gṛhastha-dharma) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights how household conduct is morally weighty: treating one’s spouse rightly and avoiding sexual misconduct are central to dharma and shape karmic outcomes.

How does this verse relate to karma and moral accountability?

It depicts complicity in wrongdoing—harmful commands and enabling unethical acts—implying that both exploitation and participation in adharma contribute to karmic burden.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid normalizing exploitation or infidelity, refuse participation in unethical requests, and uphold dignity and responsibility within relationships.