Shloka 10

An exposition of varṇa-dharma as taught by Yājñavalkya

Devanagari script

आसुरो द्रविणादानाद्गान्धर्वः समयान्मिथः / राक्षसो युद्धहरणात्पैशाचः कन्यकाच्छलात्

Transliteration

āsuro draviṇādānādgāndharvaḥ samayānmithaḥ / rākṣaso yuddhaharaṇātpaiśācaḥ kanyakācchalāt

Translation

若以财物为交换而由女方取受者，称为“阿修罗式”（Āsura）婚；若由男女两情相悦、相互约定者，称为“乾闼婆式”（Gāndharva）婚；若于战斗中掳夺少女者，称为“罗刹式”（Rākṣasa）婚；若以欺诳而玷污处女者，称为“毕舍遮式”（Paiśāca）婚。

Word by Word

• आसुरः: the Āsura (type of marriage)
• आसुरः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आसुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• द्रविण-आदानात्: from taking wealth (accepting money)
• द्रविण-आदानात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविण (प्रातिपदिक) + आदान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (5th abl. sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘द्रविणस्य आदानम्’

• गान्धर्वः: the Gāndharva (type of marriage)
• गान्धर्वः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गान्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• समयात्: from agreement/consent
• समयात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (5th abl. sg.)

• मिथः: mutually
• मिथः: Kriya-viseshana (Adverbial/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मिथः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययम्; परस्परार्थक-क्रियाविशेषणम् (reciprocal adverb ‘mutually’)

• राक्षसः: the Rākṣasa (type of marriage)
• राक्षसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राक्षस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• युद्ध-हरणात्: from abduction in battle
• युद्ध-हरणात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + हरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (5th abl. sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘युद्धेन हरणम्’

• पैशाचः: the Paiśāca (type of marriage)
• पैशाचः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पैशाच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (1st nom. sg.)

• कन्यका-छलात्: from deceit of a maiden (seduction by trick)
• कन्यका-छलात्: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Ablative/हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कन्यका (प्रातिपदिक) + छल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, पञ्चमी-एकवचनम् (5th abl. sg.); समासः—तत्पुरुषः ‘कन्यकायाः छलम्’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (speaking to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Different marriage forms are distinguished by consent, exchange, force, and deceit; the taxonomy implicitly grades moral legitimacy.

Vedantic Theme: Ethics (dharma) as a prerequisite for inner purity; harm and deceit intensify papa and bind the agent to saṃsāra.

Application: Uphold consent and non-harm; reject coercive/abusive practices; understand social rites through the lens of ethics, not mere custom.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: bibhatsa

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Geographic Context

Type: social-legal sphere (marriage customs)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.95.11–12 (varna-eligibility and rite-symbols for marriage forms)

Characters & Entities

• Asura (marriage type)
• Gandharva (marriage type)
• Rakshasa (marriage type)
• Paishacha (marriage type)

FAQs

What is the importance of classifying marriage types in the Garuda Purana?

This verse distinguishes marriages by the means used—agreement, exchange of wealth, force, or deceit—so that social conduct can be judged according to dharma, especially regarding consent and harm.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by defining actions rooted in consent versus coercion or deceit, it points to dharmic and adharmic conduct that shapes karmic outcomes discussed elsewhere in the Garuda Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Uphold consent and transparency in relationships; reject coercion, transactional exploitation, and deception as ethically destructive and karmically harmful.