Shloka 105

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

Devanagari script

तत्रापि श्वपचादिभ्यस् तथैवान्नापवर्जनम्

Transliteration

tatrāpi śvapacādibhyas tathaivānnāpavarjanam

Translation

Even in such a case, food should not be rejected merely because it has come from a śvapaca and the like; there too the rule stands that food is not to be cast aside for that reason alone.

Word by Word

• तत्र: there; in that context
• तत्र: Desha (Place/देश)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: देशवाचक अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (also)

• श्वपचादिभ्यः: from outcastes and the like
• श्वपचादिभ्यः: Apadana (Source/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्वपच + आदि (प्रातिपदिक; श्वपच-आदि)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), बहुवचन; ‘आदि’समासेन—“from dog-cookers etc.”

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (thus/in the same way)

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (Emphasis/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक अव्यय (only/indeed)

• अन्न: of food
• अन्न: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), एकवचन (समासपूर्वपद/उपपदभावे) — “of food”

• अपवर्जनम्: setting aside (a portion)
• अपवर्जनम्: Karta-bhava (Predicative/विधेय)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपवर्जन (प्रातिपदिक; अप-√वृज्/√वर्ज् भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विधेय—“removal/setting aside”

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (in instruction to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Rules of food acceptance and purity in gṛhastha-dharma (anna-śuddhi / anāpavarjana)

Teaching: Ethical

Quality: clarificatory, authoritative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Food should not be rejected solely due to the low social status of the giver; purity is governed by rule and context, not mere contempt.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Practice respectful non-discrimination in receiving support/help, while keeping clear personal ethical standards for what you consume.

Vishishtadvaita: All jīvas belong to the Lord; contempt toward persons as such conflicts with a God-centered vision even while maintaining dharmic discipline.

Vaishnava Theology

Bhakti Type: Shanta

Characters & Entities

• Parāśara
• Maitreya
• Śvapaca

FAQs

What is the significance of anna-apavarjana (non-rejection of food) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse highlights a dharmic restraint: food should not be discarded merely due to the social identity of the giver, emphasizing avoidance of waste and a more principled approach to purity.

How does Sage Parashara explain conduct around food and purity here?

Parāśara frames food discipline as part of dharma: rules are applied with nuance, and mere association with a stigmatized group (like śvapacas) is not, by itself, grounds to reject food.

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

In the Vishnu Purana, dharma is an expression of Vishnu’s sustaining order; this instruction reflects that sustaining principle through ethical restraint, non-waste, and measured purity rather than impulsive exclusion.