गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना (Griham Shunyam Sutaam Vina) - A House is Empty Without a Daughter — अध्ययन-टिप्पण्यः

1. Introduction

The title of this lesson, गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना, means "a house is empty without a daughter." It is a story (कथा) that celebrates the deep love of parents for their daughter and the value of a daughter in the family. The story presents a learned and generous man (पण्डितः) who gave away all his wealth at the time of his daughter's marriage. When his son complained that the house had become empty and poor, the father gave a gentle but powerful reply: "My son, the house may appear empty of money, but a house is truly empty only without a daughter." The story teaches us that wealth is not the real treasure of a house; love, family and righteous conduct (धर्मः) are. It also reminds us of the equality of a daughter and a son in a family, and of the joy that a daughter brings.

2. Summary of the Story

Once there lived a learned man (विद्वान् / पण्डितः) who had one son and one daughter. He loved both his children dearly, but like all parents he had a special tenderness for his daughter. When the time came for his daughter's marriage (विवाहः), he decided to celebrate it generously. He spent his wealth on the wedding ceremony, gave precious gifts, jewellery and a large amount of money (दानम्) to his daughter and her new family. In this way he gave away almost all his wealth.

His son was surprised and worried. He complained to his father, "Father, you have given away all our wealth to my sister. The house is now empty; there is nothing left for us." The father smiled and said, "My son, you are mistaken. The house is not empty because we have no money. The house would be truly empty only without a daughter - गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना. My daughter is my treasure; giving to her gives me the greatest joy. Wealth comes and goes, but the love and blessings of a daughter remain forever."

The son understood his father's feelings. Later, when he himself became a father of a daughter, he understood these words even more deeply. The lesson ends with the message that a daughter is the priceless jewel of the family, and a house without a daughter loses its real joy and light.

3. Word Meanings (शब्दार्थः)

4. Grammar (व्याकरणम्)

विना with the Accusative Case (द्वितीया विभक्ति)

The most important grammar of this chapter is that the word विना (without) is used with the accusative case (द्वितीया विभक्ति). In the title गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना, the word सुताम् is the द्वितीया एकवचन form of सुता (daughter). Just like समम् and सह, the word विना governs the accusative: कुटुम्बं जनकेन विना दुःखम् (the family is unhappy without the father). Students must not use the nominative form सुता after विना.

शब्दरूप of सुता (Feminine, आ-कारान्त)

शब्दरूप of गृहम् (Neuter, अ-कारान्त)

विशेषण-विशेष्य (Adjective and noun agreement)

शून्यम् agrees with गृहम् in gender (neuter), number and case. So we say गृहं शून्यम्, not गृहं शून्यः. This is called adjective-noun agreement (विशेष्यानुसारी विशेषणम्).

5. Quick Revision Tables

Table 1: Real Treasure versus Worldly Wealth

Table 2: The Story in Steps

6. Mind Map

7. Important Diagrams (SVG)

Diagram 1: The Two Kinds of Treasure

Diagram 2: The Father's Gentle Reply

8. Common Mistakes

1. Students often use the nominative form सुता after विना. The correct form is सुताम् (द्वितीया) because विना takes the accusative case.
2. The word शून्यम् is neuter (गृहम् is neuter), but students write शून्यः. Remember the adjective must agree with the noun.
3. Students translate गृहम् as "house" but forget that गृहाणि is its plural. गृहम् is नपुंसकलिङ्ग.
4. The words सुता (daughter) and सुतः (son) look similar. सुता is feminine (daughter); सुतः is masculine (son).
5. Some students mix up कन्या (girl/daughter) with कन्यका (small girl). Both are feminine but कन्यका has a different शब्दरूप.
6. The moral is sometimes reduced to "daughters need money." The correct moral is that love, not wealth, makes a home truly full.

9. Exam Tips

1. Be ready to explain the title गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना in your own words - it is the most likely question from this lesson.
2. Learn the विना + द्वितीया rule with examples: सुतां विना, विद्यां विना, मित्रं विना.
3. Practise the full शब्दरूप of सुता and गृहम् - one or both may be asked as a table.
4. In essay questions, present both sides: the son's complaint and the father's reply, then give the moral.
5. Connect the lesson to the theme of the equal love of a son and a daughter in Indian families.
6. Remember the key vocabulary (विवाहः, दानम्, धनम्, स्नेहः, आनन्दः) for one-word questions.

10. Conclusion

गृहं शून्यं सुतां विना is a heart-warming story about parental love and the true meaning of wealth. The learned father gives away all his riches at his daughter's marriage, and when his son complains, he teaches him that a house is truly empty only without a daughter. The lesson reminds us that money is temporary, but the love, laughter and blessings of children, especially a daughter, fill a home with everlasting light. Grammar-wise, the chapter teaches the rule that विना takes the accusative case (सुताम्), and how adjectives agree with their nouns (गृहं शून्यम्). The story gently teaches equality, generosity and the joy of giving, values that enrich every family and every society.