Shloka 8

सदाचार-नियमाः: शील, संयम, संग-निषेध, शुचिता, वाणी-नीति, परोपकारः

Devanagari script

नावगाहेज् जलौघस्य वेगम् अग्रे नरेश्वर प्रदीप्तं वेश्म न विशेन् नारोहेच् छिखरं तरोः

Transliteration

nāvagāhej jalaughasya vegam agre nareśvara pradīptaṃ veśma na viśen nārohec chikharaṃ taroḥ

Translation

يا سيّد الناس، لا تُلقِ بنفسك في اندفاع سيلٍ جارف؛ ولا تدخل بيتًا مشتعلًا؛ ولا تصعد إلى قمة شجرة. هكذا يتجنب الحكماء الخطرَ الذي لا حاجة إليه، ويحفظون الحياة لأجل الدَّرْمَة والخير الأعلى تحت سيادة الإله الأعلى، فيشنو.

Word by Word

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• अवगाहेत्: should plunge into
• अवगाहेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-√गाह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should enter/plunge into’

• जलौघस्य: of the flood of water
• जलौघस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जल (प्रातिपदिक) + ओघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘जलस्य ओघः’ = flood/stream of water

• वेगम्: the force/current
• वेगम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• अग्रे: ahead/in front
• अग्रे: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत्; सप्तमी-एकवचनरूपे अव्ययप्रयोगः (in front/ahead)

• नरेश्वर: O lord of men (king)
• नरेश्वर: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + ईश्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘नराणाम् ईश्वरः’

• प्रदीप्तम्: blazing
• प्रदीप्तम्: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र-दीप्त (कृदन्त; √दीप् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) = blazing

• वेश्म: a house
• वेश्म: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेश्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• विशेत्: should enter
• विशेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should enter’

• न: not
• न: Pratiṣedha (Negation/निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध

• आरोहेत्: should climb
• आरोहेत्: Kriyā (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√रुह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘should climb’

• शिखरम्: the top/peak
• शिखरम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिखर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• तरोः: of a tree
• तरोः: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, षष्ठी, एकवचन

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya, within dharma/nīti teaching)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of prudent conduct that protect life as an instrument for dharma under the Supreme Lord

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Avoid needless physical peril, preserving the body as a support for dharma, which stands under the sovereignty of the Supreme (Viṣṇu).

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice risk-awareness and non-recklessness; protect health and life so spiritual and ethical duties can be fulfilled.

Vishishtadvaita: The body and worldly order are to be used in service of the Lord; prudence is part of dharma-oriented living under Nārāyaṇa’s rule.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• King (Nareśvara)

FAQs

What is the significance of practical nīti (prudence) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames dharma as also practical: the wise avoid obvious hazards (flood-currents, fire, unsafe heights) so that life and duty are not squandered through needless risk.

How does Sage Parāśara explain right conduct for a ruler (nareśvara) here?

By giving concrete prohibitions against reckless acts, Parāśara teaches that a king’s steadiness and self-control are essential for protecting subjects and sustaining social order.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when the verse is practical, its dharma-setting assumes a cosmos governed by the Supreme; preserving life and order supports the pursuit of righteous duty that ultimately aligns with Viṣṇu as the sustaining Reality.