Yajnavalkya's Teaching on the Duties of the Householder

Verse 1 (garuda.1.95.1)

याज्ञवल्क्य उवाच । श्रृण्वन्तु मुनयो धर्मान् गृहस्थस्य यतव्रताः । गुरवे च धनं दत्त्वा स्नात्वा च तदनुज्ञया

yājñavalkya uvāca śrṛṇvantu munayo dharmān gṛhasthasya yatavratāḥ gurave ca dhanaṁ dattvā snātvā ca tadanujñayā

Yajnavalkya said: Let the sages, of controlled vows, hear the duties of the householder. Having given wealth to the teacher, and having bathed with his permission —

Verse 2 (garuda.1.95.2)

समापितब्रह्मचर्य्यो लक्षण्यां स्त्रियमुद्वहेत् । अनन्यपूर्विकां कान्तामसपिण्डां यवीयसीम्

samāpitabrahmacaryyo lakṣaṇyāṁ striyamudvahet ananyapūrvikāṁ kāntāmasapiṇḍāṁ yavīyasīm

one whose studentship is complete should marry a woman of good marks — one not previously married to another, lovely, not a blood relative, younger than himself,

Verse 3 (garuda.1.95.3)

अरोगिणीं भ्रातृमतीमसमानार्षगोत्रजाम् । पञ्चमात्सप्तमादूर्द्ध्वं मातृतः पितृतस्तथा

arogiṇīṁ bhrātṛmatīmasamānārṣagotrajām pañcamātsaptamādūrddhvaṁ mātṛtaḥ pitṛtastathā

free of disease, having a brother, not of the same sage's gotra, beyond the fifth degree on the mother's side and the seventh on the father's side,

Verse 4 (garuda.1.95.4)

दशपुरुषविख्याताच्छ्रोत्रियाणां महाकुलात् । सवर्णः श्रोत्रियो विद्वान्वरो दोषान्वितो न च

daśapuruṣavikhyātācchrotriyāṇāṁ mahākulāt savarṇaḥ śrotriyo vidvānvaro doṣānvito na ca

from a great family of learned brahmins renowned for ten generations. The bridegroom too should be of the same caste, learned in the Veda, wise, and free of faults.

Verse 5 (garuda.1.95.5)

यदुच्यते द्विजातीनां शूद्राद्दारोपसंग्रहः । न तन्मम मतं यस्मात्तत्रायं जायते स्वयम्

yaducyate dvijātīnāṁ śūdrāddāropasaṁgrahaḥ na tanmama mataṁ yasmāttatrāyaṁ jāyate svayam

As for what is said — that the twice-born may take a shudra wife — that is not my opinion, since the offspring of such a union is born defiled by his very origin.

Verse 6 (garuda.1.95.6)

तिस्रो वर्णानुपूर्व्येण द्वे तथैका यथाक्रमम् । ब्राह्मणक्षत्त्रियविशां भार्य्याः स्वा शूद्रजन्मनः

tisro varṇānupūrvyeṇa dve tathaikā yathākramam brāhmaṇakṣattriyaviśāṁ bhāryyāḥ svā śūdrajanmanaḥ

In due order — three, two, and one — brahmins, kshatriyas, and vaishyas may take that many wives besides one of their own varna; one of shudra birth, only a wife of his own varna.

Verse 7 (garuda.1.95.7)

ब्राह्मो विवाह आहूय दीयते शक्त्यलङ्कृता । तज्जः पुनात्युभयतः पुरुषोनेकविंशतिम्

brāhmo vivāha āhūya dīyate śaktyalaṅkṛtā tajjaḥ punātyubhayataḥ puruṣonekaviṁśatim

In the Brahma marriage, the bride, adorned according to one's means, is given after inviting a suitable groom. A son born of this purifies twenty-one generations on both sides.

Verse 8 (garuda.1.95.8)

यज्ञस्थायर्त्विजे दैवमादायार्षस्तु गोयुगम् । चतुर्दश प्रथमजः पुनात्युत्तरजश्च षट्

yajñasthāyartvije daivamādāyārṣastu goyugam caturdaśa prathamajaḥ punātyuttarajaśca ṣaṭ

Giving the bride to an officiating priest engaged in a sacrifice is the Daiva marriage; giving her in exchange for a pair of cattle is the Arsha marriage. The son of a Daiva marriage purifies fourteen generations, and one born of an Arsha marriage, six.

Verse 9 (garuda.1.95.9)

इत्युक्त्वा चरतां धर्मं सह या दीयतेऽर्थिने । स कायः पावयेत्तज्जः षड्वंश्यानात्मना सह

ityuktvā caratāṁ dharmaṁ saha yā dīyate'rthine sa kāyaḥ pāvayettajjaḥ ṣaḍvaṁśyānātmanā saha

The marriage in which the daughter is given to a suitor with the words 'may you both together practice dharma' is the Prajapatya marriage. The son born of this purifies six generations of the lineage, together with himself.

Verse 10 (garuda.1.95.10)

आसुरो द्रविणादानाद्गान्धर्वः समयान्मिथः । राक्षसो युद्धहरणात्पैशाचः कन्यकाच्छलात्

āsuro draviṇādānādgāndharvaḥ samayānmithaḥ rākṣaso yuddhaharaṇātpaiśācaḥ kanyakācchalāt

The Asura marriage arises from receiving wealth; the Gandharva, from mutual consent; the Rakshasa, from abduction through combat; the Paishacha, from deceiving the maiden.

Verse 11 (garuda.1.95.11)

चत्वारो ब्राह्मणस्याद्यास्तथा गान्धर्वराक्षसौ । राज्ञस्तथासुरो वैश्ये शूद्रे चान्त्यस्तु गर्हितः

catvāro brāhmaṇasyādyāstathā gāndharvarākṣasau rājñastathāsuro vaiśye śūdre cāntyastu garhitaḥ

The first four are for the brahmin; the Gandharva and Rakshasa are for the king (kshatriya); the Asura for the vaishya; and the last, the Paishacha, for the shudra, is reprehensible.

Verse 12 (garuda.1.95.12)

पाणिर्ग्राह्यः सवर्णासु गृह्णीत क्षत्त्रिया शरम् । वैश्या प्रतोदमादद्याद्वेदने चाग्रजन्मनः

pāṇirgrāhyaḥ savarṇāsu gṛhṇīta kṣattriyā śaram vaiśyā pratodamādadyādvedane cāgrajanmanaḥ

The hand of the bride is taken among those of the same varna; a kshatriya bride should hold an arrow, and a vaishya bride a goad, at the touching-rite performed by the brahmin officiant.

Verse 13 (garuda.1.95.13)

पिता पितामहो भ्राता सकुल्यो जननी तथा । कन्याप्रदः पूर्वनाशे प्रकृतिस्थः परः परः

pitā pitāmaho bhrātā sakulyo jananī tathā kanyāpradaḥ pūrvanāśe prakṛtisthaḥ paraḥ paraḥ

The father, the grandfather, the brother, a kinsman, and the mother — in the absence of the one preceding, being of sound condition, are, in this order, the givers of the maiden.

Verse 14 (garuda.1.95.14)

अप्रयच्छन्समाप्नोति भ्रूणहत्यामृतावृतौ । एषामभावे दातॄणां कन्या कुर्य्यात्स्वयंवरम्

aprayacchansamāpnoti bhrūṇahatyāmṛtāvṛtau eṣāmabhāve dātṝṇāṁ kanyā kuryyātsvayaṁvaram

One who fails to give her in marriage at the proper time incurs the sin of killing an embryo with each missed season. In the absence of all these givers, the maiden may perform her own choice of husband.

Verse 15 (garuda.1.95.15)

सकृत्प्रदीयते कन्या हरंस्तां चोरदण्डभाक् । अदुष्टां हि त्यजन्दण्ड्यः सुदुष्टां तु परित्यजेत्

sakṛtpradīyate kanyā haraṁstāṁ coradaṇḍabhāk aduṣṭāṁ hi tyajandaṇḍyaḥ suduṣṭāṁ tu parityajet

A maiden is given in marriage only once. One who abducts her after that is liable to the punishment for theft. One who abandons a faultless wife is punishable; but a wife of grave fault may indeed be abandoned.

Verse 16 (garuda.1.95.16)

अपुत्रीगुर्वनुज्ञातो देवरः पुत्रकान्यगा । सपिण्डो वा समोत्रो वा घृताभ्यक्त ऋतावियात्

aputrīgurvanujñāto devaraḥ putrakānyagā sapiṇḍo vā samotro vā ghṛtābhyakta ṛtāviyāt

If a wife is without a son, the brother-in-law, or another sapinda or one of the same gotra appointed for begetting a son, permitted by elders, anointed with ghee, may approach her at the fertile season —

Verse 17 (garuda.1.95.17)

आगर्भसम्भवं गच्छेत्पतितस्त्वन्यथा भवेत् । अनेन विधिना जात क्षेत्रपस्य भवेत्सुतः

āgarbhasambhavaṁ gacchetpatitastvanyathā bhavet anena vidhinā jāta kṣetrapasya bhavetsutaḥ

he should approach her only until conception occurs; otherwise he becomes fallen. The son born by this method is reckoned as belonging to the deceased husband.

Verse 18 (garuda.1.95.18)

हृताधिकारां मलिनां पिण्डमात्रोपसेविनीम् । परिभूतामधः शय्यां वासयेद्य्वभिचारिणीम्

hṛtādhikārāṁ malināṁ piṇḍamātropasevinīm paribhūtāmadhaḥ śayyāṁ vāsayedyvabhicāriṇīm

One who has been unchaste should be deprived of her authority, kept in soiled clothes, given only bare sustenance, treated with contempt, made to sleep on a low bed —

Verse 19 (garuda.1.95.19)

सोमः शौचं ददौ तासां गन्धर्वश्च शुभां गिरम् । पावकः सर्वमेध्यत्वं मेध्या वै योषितो यतः

somaḥ śaucaṁ dadau tāsāṁ gandharvaśca śubhāṁ giram pāvakaḥ sarvamedhyatvaṁ medhyā vai yoṣito yataḥ

Soma gave purity to women, Gandharva gave sweet speech, and Agni gave complete purity — for women are inherently pure.

Verse 20 (garuda.1.95.20)

व्यभिचारादृतौशुद्धिर्गर्भेत्यागं करोति च । गर्भभर्त्तृवधे तासां तथा महति पातके

vyabhicārādṛtauśuddhirgarbhetyāgaṁ karoti ca garbhabharttṛvadhe tāsāṁ tathā mahati pātake

For unchastity, purification comes with the next fertile season; but if pregnancy results, the husband may abandon her — and likewise for the great sin of killing an embryo or the husband.

Verse 21 (garuda.1.95.21)

सुरापी व्याधिता द्वेष्ट्री वन्ध्यार्थघ्न्यप्रियंवदा । अधिविन्ना च भर्तव्या महदेनोन्यथा भवेत्

surāpī vyādhitā dveṣṭrī vandhyārthaghnyapriyaṁvadā adhivinnā ca bhartavyā mahadenonyathā bhavet

A wife who is a drunkard, diseased, hostile, barren, a squanderer of wealth, harsh-spoken, or who has been superseded by another wife — she should still be maintained; otherwise a great sin arises.

Verse 22 (garuda.1.95.22)

यत्राविरोधो दम्पत्योस्त्रिवर्गस्तत्त्र वर्द्धते । मृते जीवति या पत्यौ या नान्यमुपगच्छति

yatrāvirodho dampatyostrivargastattra varddhate mṛte jīvati yā patyau yā nānyamupagacchati

Where there is no discord between husband and wife, there the threefold aim of life flourishes. She who, whether her husband is dead or living, does not turn to another —

Verse 23 (garuda.1.95.23)

सेह कीर्त्तिमवाप्नोति मोदते चोमया सह । शुद्धां त्यजंस्तृतीयांशं दद्यादामरणं स्त्रियाः

seha kīrttimavāpnoti modate comayā saha śuddhāṁ tyajaṁstṛtīyāṁśaṁ dadyādāmaraṇaṁ striyāḥ

She obtains renown here, and rejoices together with Uma. One who abandons a faultless wife should give her a third of his property for her maintenance until death.

Verse 24 (garuda.1.95.24)

स्त्रीभिर्भर्तुर्वचः कार्य्यमेष धर्मः परः स्त्रियाः । षोडशर्त्तुनिशाः स्त्रीणां तासु युग्मासु संविशेत्

strībhirbharturvacaḥ kāryyameṣa dharmaḥ paraḥ striyāḥ ṣoḍaśarttuniśāḥ strīṇāṁ tāsu yugmāsu saṁviśet

Wives should carry out their husband's word — this is the highest duty of women. Sixteen nights of the fertile period belong to women; on the even nights among these, one should approach her.

Verse 25 (garuda.1.95.25)

ब्रह्मचारी च पर्वाण्याद्याश्ततस्त्रस्तु वर्जयेत् । एवं गच्छं स्त्रियं क्षामां मघां मूलां च वर्जयेत्

brahmacārī ca parvāṇyādyāśtatastrastu varjayet evaṁ gacchaṁ striyaṁ kṣāmāṁ maghāṁ mūlāṁ ca varjayet

On the parva days among these, and the first four nights, he should observe celibacy. Likewise, when approaching his wife, he should avoid the lunar mansions Kshama, Magha, and Mula.

Verse 26 (garuda.1.95.26)

लक्षण्यं जनयेदेव पुत्रं रोगविवर्जितम् । यथा कामी भवेद्वापि स्त्रीणां (स्म) वलमनुस्मरन्

lakṣaṇyaṁ janayedeva putraṁ rogavivarjitam yathā kāmī bhavedvāpi strīṇāṁ (sma) valamanusmaran

Thus he begets a son of good marks, free of disease, and, keeping in mind the natural desire of women, is himself a satisfied lover as well.

Verse 27 (garuda.1.95.27)

स्वदारनिरतश्चैव स्त्रियो रक्ष्या यतस्ततः । भर्त्तृभ्रातृपितृज्ञातिश्वश्रूश्वशुरदेवरैः

svadāranirataścaiva striyo rakṣyā yatastataḥ bharttṛbhrātṛpitṛjñātiśvaśrūśvaśuradevaraiḥ

Being devoted to his own wife, women should also be protected by every means — by husbands, brothers, fathers, kinsmen, mothers-in-law, fathers-in-law, and brothers-in-law —

Verse 28 (garuda.1.95.28)

बन्धुभिश्च स्त्रियः पूज्या भूषणाच्छादनाशनैः । संयतो पस्करा दक्षा हृष्टा व्ययपराङूमुखी

bandhubhiśca striyaḥ pūjyā bhūṣaṇācchādanāśanaiḥ saṁyato paskarā dakṣā hṛṣṭā vyayaparāṅūmukhī

and by relatives. Women are to be honored with ornaments, clothing, and food. Self-controlled, keeping her household affairs in order, skillful, cheerful, and averse to waste —

Verse 29 (garuda.1.95.29)

श्वश्रूश्वशुरयोः कुर्य्यात्पादयोर्वन्दनं सदा । क्रीडाशरीरसंस्कारसमाजोत्सवदर्शनम्

śvaśrūśvaśurayoḥ kuryyātpādayorvandanaṁ sadā krīḍāśarīrasaṁskārasamājotsavadarśanam

she should always pay homage at the feet of her mother-in-law and father-in-law. Frivolous pastimes, excessive adornment, the seeing of public gatherings and festivals,

Verse 30 (garuda.1.95.30)

हास्यं परगृहे यानं त्यजेत्प्रेषितभर्तृका । रक्षेत्कन्यां पिता बाल्ये यौवने पतिरेव ताम्

hāsyaṁ paragṛhe yānaṁ tyajetpreṣitabhartṛkā rakṣetkanyāṁ pitā bālye yauvane patireva tām

laughter with strangers, and going to another's house — a wife whose husband is away should give these up. The father protects the daughter in childhood; the husband alone protects her in youth.

Verse 31 (garuda.1.95.31)

वार्द्धक्ये रक्षते पुत्रो ह्यन्यथा ज्ञातयस्तथा । पतिं विना न तिष्ठेत्तु दिवा वा यदि वा निशि

vārddhakye rakṣate putro hyanyathā jñātayastathā patiṁ vinā na tiṣṭhettu divā vā yadi vā niśi

In old age, the son protects her; otherwise, kinsmen do so. A woman should not remain apart from her husband, whether by day or by night.

Verse 32 (garuda.1.95.32)

ज्येष्ठां धर्मविधौ कुर्य्यान्न कनिष्ठां कदाचन । दाहयेदग्निहोत्रेण स्त्रियं वृत्तवतीं पतिः

jyeṣṭhāṁ dharmavidhau kuryyānna kaniṣṭhāṁ kadācana dāhayedagnihotreṇa striyaṁ vṛttavatīṁ patiḥ

In matters of religious rite, one should employ the eldest wife, never the youngest. The husband should cremate a wife of good conduct with the sacred Agnihotra fire that she maintained.

Verse 33 (garuda.1.95.33)

आहरेद्विधिवद्दारानग्निं चैवाविलम्बितः । हिता भर्त्तुर्दिवं गच्छेदिह कीर्त्तीरवाप्य च

āharedvidhivaddārānagniṁ caivāvilambitaḥ hitā bhartturdivaṁ gacchediha kīrttīravāpya ca

Without delay, he should duly take another wife and re-establish the sacred fire. A wife devoted to her husband's welfare goes to heaven, having attained renown in this world as well.