Shloka 16

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

अपुत्रा गुबपुज्ञातो देवरः पुत्रकान्यगा / सपिण्डो वा समोत्रो वा घृताभ्यक्त ऋतावियात्

Transliteration

aputrā gubapujñāto devaraḥ putrakānyagā / sapiṇḍo vā samotro vā ghṛtābhyakta ṛtāviyāt

Translation

Nếu người nữ không có con trai và người chồng không rõ (hoặc không hiện diện), thì em chồng (devara) hoặc một thân tộc—hoặc sapinda (cùng dòng tổ tiên) hoặc cùng gotra—sau khi xức ghee, có thể đến với nàng vào đúng thời kỳ (ṛtu) để cầu sinh con trai.

Word by Word

• अपुत्रा: sonless (woman)
• अपुत्रा: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अपुत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नञ्-समास (without a son)

• गुबपुज्ञातः: (uncertain term; possibly a specified relative/guardian)
• गुबपुज्ञातः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुबपुज्ञात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पाठ-भेद/दुर्लभ-शब्द (uncertain lexeme)

• देवरः: husband’s younger brother
• देवरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• पुत्रकान्यगा: one who goes to another for sons (niyoga context)
• पुत्रकान्यगा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुत्रक (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्यगा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः (पुत्रकान् अन्यं गच्छति/गता = one who goes to another for sons; sense: appointed for begetting sons)

• सपिण्डः: a sapinda (close agnatic kinsman)
• सपिण्डः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपिण्ड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• समोत्रः: one of the same gotra (clan)
• समोत्रः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समोत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; पाठ-भेद सम्भव (समगोत्रः इत्यर्थे)

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; विकल्पार्थक (or)

• घृताभ्यक्तः: anointed with ghee
• घृताभ्यक्तः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घृत (प्रातिपदिक) + अभ्यक्त (कृदन्त; √अञ्ज् ‘to smear/anoint’ + अभि- उपसर्ग, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; तृतीया/षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (घृतेन अभ्यक्तः = anointed with ghee)

• ऋतौ: in the fertile season
• ऋतौ: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऋतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• इयात्: should go/approach
• इयात्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √या (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: In specified exceptional conditions, niyoga-like begetting of a son through a designated kinsman is permitted, regulated by season and ritual preparation.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma as contextual rule-system balancing individual conduct with lineage/social obligations; ritual purity as support for ordered life.

Application: Recognize that traditional texts sometimes provide exception-procedures for social continuity; in modern terms, prioritize ethical safeguards, consent, and lawful frameworks around reproductive decisions.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana dharma passages on progeny, lineage rites, and exceptional procedures (general parallel motifs)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda
• Sapinda
• Gotra

FAQs

What is the importance of progeny (putra) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats a son as essential for lineage continuity and dharmic obligations, permitting a regulated, kin-based method to obtain progeny when the husband is unavailable.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana teachings on dharma and ritual conduct?

It frames a sensitive act under strict dharmic constraints—qualified relative (sapinda/same gotra), ritual preparation (ghee anointment), and proper timing (ṛtu)—showing how conduct is regulated by purity and social-religious order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

As a historical dharma guideline, it highlights the text’s emphasis on regulated conduct, consent, and ritual propriety; modern readers typically apply it as contextual ethics rather than a literal prescription.