Shloka 77

Adhyaya 34 — Madālāsā’s Instruction on Sadācāra (Householder Conduct, Purity, and Daily Rites)

Sanskrit

अव्यङ्गीं सौम्यनासाञ्च स्रवलक्षणलक्षिताम् ।

तादृशीमुद्वहेत् कन्यां श्रेयः कामो नरः सदा ॥

Transliteration

avyaṅgīṃ saumyanāsāñ ca sravalakṣaṇalakṣitām | tādṛśīm udvahet kanyāṃ śreyaḥ kāmo naraḥ sadā ||

Translation

Người đàn ông luôn cầu mong an lành nên cưới một thiếu nữ không khiếm khuyết thân thể, có dung mạo/mũi đoan trang ưa nhìn, và mang những dấu hiệu cát tường của nữ tính.

Word by Word

• avyaṅgīm: without deformity
• avyaṅgīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a- (उपसर्ग/निषेध) + vyaṅgī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); नञ्-समासार्थ (negation)

• saumya-nāsām: having a pleasing nose
• saumya-nāsām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saumya (प्रातिपदिक) + nāsā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); कर्मधारय: 'saumyā nāsā yasyāḥ' (having a pleasant nose)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (and)

• srava-lakṣaṇa-lakṣitām: marked with auspicious characteristics
• srava-lakṣaṇa-lakṣitām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: srava (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + lakṣitā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular); तत्पुरुष (determinative): 'srava-lakṣaṇaiḥ lakṣitā' (marked by auspicious signs)

• tādṛśīm: such (a one)
• tādṛśīm: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tādṛśī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• udvahet: should marry (take in marriage)
• udvahet: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud-√vah (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)

• kanyām: a maiden/bride
• kanyām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kanyā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (singular)

• śreyaḥ: the better/good (welfare)
• śreyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śreyas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (singular)

• kāmaḥ: desire
• kāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (singular)

• naraḥ: a man
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा (Nom), एकवचन (singular)

• sadā: always
• sadā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadā (अव्यय)
• Form: काल-अव्यय (adverb of time: always)

Speakers

• General dharma instruction (speaker not specified in provided excerpt)

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "dharma", "secondaryRasa": "shanta", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Key Themes

• Dharma
• Vivāha (marriage) norms
• Auspicious marks (lakṣaṇa)
• Gṛhastha life

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

Householder dharma is framed as a pursuit of śreyas (long-term welfare). The verse encodes an ideal of harmony: health, auspicious disposition, and socially recognized ‘good signs’ are presented as supports for stable family life.

How does this fit the Pancalakṣaṇa (5 characteristics)?

Ācāra/social dharma content rather than the Purāṇa’s five characteristic narrative domains.

What is the esoteric significance?

Auspicious ‘marks’ can be read as external indicators of inner sattva—balance, gentleness, and steadiness—qualities valued for sustaining dharma in the gṛhastha āśrama.