Shloka 11

गृहस्थस्य सदाचारः: शौच, तर্পण, वैश्वदेव, अतिथिधर्म, भोजन-विधि, संध्योपासन, ऋतु-धर्मः

Devanagari script

आत्मच्छायां तरुच्छायां गोसूर्याग्न्यनिलांस् तथा गुरुं द्विजातींश् च बुधो न मेहेत कदाचन

Transliteration

ātmacchāyāṃ tarucchāyāṃ gosūryāgnyanilāṃs tathā guruṃ dvijātīṃś ca budho na meheta kadācana

Translation

জ্ঞানী ব্যক্তি কখনও নিজের ছায়া, গাছের ছায়া, গরু, সূর্য, অগ্নি বা বায়ুর উপর, এবং গুরু ও দ্বিজদের সামনে মূত্র ত্যাগ করবে না।

Word by Word

• आत्मच्छायाम्: one's own shadow
• आत्मच्छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्म-छाया (प्रातिपदिक; आत्मन् + छाया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः छाया)

• तरुच्छायाम्: the shadow of a tree
• तरुच्छायाम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तरु-छाया (प्रातिपदिक; तरु + छाया)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तरॊः छाया)

• गो: cow
• गो: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अवयवः)

• सूर्य: sun
• सूर्य: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूर्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अवयवः)

• अग्नि: fire
• अग्नि: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्नि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन (समाहार-द्वन्द्वस्य अवयवः)

• अनिलान्: wind(s) (i.e., cow, sun, fire, and wind)
• अनिलान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; पूर्वपदानि (गो-सूर्य-अग्नि) सह समाहार-द्वन्द्वार्थः

• तथा: also; likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/उपमानार्थ-क्रियाविशेषणम् ("also/likewise")

• गुरुम्: teacher
• गुरुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्विजातीन्: twice-born (Brahmins etc.)
• द्विजातीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विजाति (प्रातिपदिक; द्वि + जाति)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः (द्विजाः जातयः/द्विजाः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः

• बुधः: a wise man
• बुधः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निषेध-निपातः

• मेहेत: should urinate
• मेहेत: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मिह् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• कदाचन: ever; at any time (with na: never)
• कदाचन: Adverbial (काल/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कदाचन (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-निपातः (न + कदाचन = "never")

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of purity and proper conduct (śauca/ācāra) within dharma

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Śauca and reverence toward beings and sacred presences are upheld through disciplined bodily conduct.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Treat shared and symbolically sacred spaces (living beings, fire, sunlight, learning environments) with hygienic care and reverence.

Vishishtadvaita: Dharma is grounded in the Lord’s sovereignty over the ordered world, making ethical restraint a form of reverent service to Him.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Para-Brahman

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)
• Agni (Fire)
• Vayu/Anila (Wind)
• Gurus (Teacher/Preceptor)
• Dvijati (Twice-born classes)
• Cow (Go)

FAQs

What is the significance of purity rules like this in the Vishnu Purana?

They preserve śauca (purity) and reverence toward sacred forces (deities, guru, dvija), reinforcing dharma—the social and cosmic order ultimately sustained by Viṣṇu.

How does Sage Parāśara explain proper conduct in this chapter’s context?

Parāśara lists practical restraints for daily life—what to avoid and whom to honor—showing that dharma is lived through disciplined behavior, not only through ritual theory.

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

Even when the verse gives ethical etiquette, it aligns with the Purāṇic vision that cosmic order and sacredness pervade creation, which is governed and upheld by the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.